A record number of battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles were sold in Northern Ireland last month, new industry data suggests.
New Automotive, which lobbies for the transition to electric vehicles, said 880 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 1,743 hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) were registered in the north in March.
It set new monthly records for both categories. Some 284 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were also registered last month.
It comes as figures separately published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Friday, showed Northern Ireland’s new car industry as the weakest performing in the UK during March.
The trade body said 5,982 new cars were registered in the north last month.
While that is 2% up on the same month last year, it was far behind the 13.6% year-on-year growth reported in England, and well below the UK-wide rate of 12.4%.
March is typically a strong month for Britain’s car dealers, with new GB vehicle registration plates issued.
The April hike in vehicle excise duty was also likely a factor driving sales in March.
But while new car registrations have grown by 6.4% UK-wide in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, sales in Northern Ireland are 3% down on last year.
A total of 14,318 new cars were registered in Northern Ireland in Q1 2025, compared to 14,750 in Q1 2024.
The SMMT said the record figures for electric vehicles in the north was reflected UK-wide, setting new records.
Sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles were up by 27.7%, 37.9% and 43.2% respectively.
The SMMT said ‘significant discounting’ helped make March became the largest month ever for EV registrations in the UK, with 69,313 new battery-powered vehicles (BEVs) registered during the month.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “With March being the best month ever for electric car registrations, there is reason for optimism.
“Manufacturers remain committed to the market decarbonisation the country and the environment demands, but we need sustained growth, not a short-term bubble driven by unsustainable manufacturer discounting and drivers rushing to beat a tax hike.
“Without substantive government support for consumers, the current regulatory regime is undeliverable.
“A rapid response to the government consultation is therefore needed – one that adds flexibilities that reflect the natural level of demand and supports the industry to deliver growth in the face of a tough set of global challenges.”
