Wicklow Emerges As Leading County In EV Adoption in Evolving Irish Car Market

Wicklow Sees Strong Growth Across Passenger Cars and Electric Vehicles in 2026 outpacing neighbouring commuter belt counties for green transition vehicles

Wicklow has recorded steady growth in new passenger car registrations, with 946 units registered in 2026, up 9.74% from 862 in 2025 and 806 in 2024.

This gives the county a 2.73% share of the national passenger car market, positioning it in the mid-range nationally. While smaller counties such as Leitrim (164 units) and Longford (171 units) continue to record the lowest sales, Wicklow’s consistent year-on-year growth reflects solid demand in the region.

Focusing on the green transition, Wicklow has emerged as a leader in electric vehicle adoption. In January 2026 alone, the county recorded 289 new electric car registrations, up 124% from 129 units in January 2025, representing 3.95% of the national EV market, up from 2.62% last year.

This makes Wicklow one of the fastest-growing counties for EV uptake in Ireland, outpacing larger counties such as Kildare (+45%) and Meath (+64%).

Nationally, January 2026 saw 7,319 new electric cars registered, a 48.7% increase from 4,923 in January 2025, marking the highest monthly volume of EV registrations to date.

Dublin leads with 2,720 units (37.16% share), followed by Cork (868 units) and Kildare (440 units), but Wicklow’s growth rate underscores the county’s commitment to sustainable mobility.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) also released comprehensive January statistics:

• New car registrations: 34,604 units (+3.3% vs. January 2025)
• Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs): 7,579 units (+21.6%)
• Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs): 392 units (-16.6%)
• Imported Used Cars: 8,041 units (+43.5%)

By engine type, hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) lead the market for the first time at 28.28%, followed by electric cars at 21.15%, petrol 20.94%, plug-in hybrid 14.56%, and diesel 12.48%.

Automatic transmissions dominate at 78.74%, with manuals declining to 21.21%.

Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said:

“2026 has started promisingly for the new car market. Wicklow’s remarkable growth in EV registrations reflects the wider national trend, with battery technology cars seeing significant uptake. Private consumers accounted for 75% of BEV sales, supported by government incentives, expanding model choices, and a greater range of price points. Continued focus on infrastructure and policy support will be key to sustaining this momentum.”

Wicklow’s performance demonstrates that mid-sized counties can lead in electric vehicle adoption, complementing national growth in sustainable transport. With hybrids and fully electric cars now accounting for nearly two-thirds of new registrations in January, Wicklow drivers are embracing the shift toward cleaner mobility, while the overall car market in the county continues its steady upward trajectory.