The MGS5 EV, available from O’Briens, should sell well.

New EV sales up for Westmeath

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The MGS5 EV, available from O’Briens, should sell well.

Published: Tue 17 Jun 2025, 4:00 PM

New car registrations across Ireland were down 8.8 per cent in May of this year compared to May of last year, according to the latest figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

This May’s figure was 5,832 compared to the May 2024 figure of 6,398; however, in the year to date, registrations overall are up 2.4% (79,301) on the same period last year (77,461).

In Westmeath, the year to date has seen 1,073 new cars registered – exactly 20 more than at the same time in 2024. The county accounts for 1.35 per cent of the total new cars registered.

Significantly, there has been a considerable increase in the number of electric vehicles registered in Westmeath to date. By the end of May this year, 165 of the new vehicles registered in the county were electric compared to the 2024 figure of just 108. The increase represents a 55.56 per cent hike, the fifth greatest in the country.

In terms of new vehicle registrations, it’s been a mixed performance year-to-date in the midland counties generally: Longford’s car registrations have dropped 1.94 per cent (360 in 2024, 353 in 2025); Roscommon’s drop has been even sharper – a fall from 740 in 2024 to 711 in 2025, representing a decrease of 2.6 per cent.

Meanwhile, Offaly’s registrations are up 6.47 per cent (819 to 872); Meath is up 6.76 per cent to 2,655 (2,487 last year) and Laois has seen a surge of 12.27 per cent (929 last year; 1043 this year).

Across the state, light commercial vehicles (LCVs) decreased by 1.6% (1,913) compared to May last year (1,944). Year to date LCVs are down 8.8% (17,795). Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) registrations are down 21.6% (207) in comparison to May 2024 (264). Year to date, HGVs are down 10.3% (1,521).

Imported Used Cars have seen a 7.9% (5,949) rise in May 2025, when compared to May 2024 (5,513). Year to date imports are up 7.5% (28,184) on 2024 (26,206).

In May 1,092 new electric cars were registered, which was 5.3% higher than the 1,037 registrations in May 2024. So far this year, 12,392 new electric cars have been registered, representing a 23.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024 when 10,052 electric cars were registered.