New car sales charge ahead

Sales of new passenger vehicles were given a boost last month as demand for battery EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) shot up in response to rising fuel prices because of the Middle East conflict.

There were 2,275 BEVs sold in March, which was up 284.9 per cent from 591 in the same month a year ago. This gave the category a market share of 22.6 per cent, the equivalent of more than one in every five sales.

PHEV registrations went from 304 to 1,137 over the same period, a jump of 274 per cent, and accounted for 11.3 of market activity.

The surge in interest in low and zero-emitters helped the overall total of new passenger vehicles registered hit 10,063 units last month, a rise of 19.7 per cent from 8,404 in March last year.

At the same time, sales of hybrids were flat, dropping 0.7 per cent from 3,246 to 3,223, while diesels nudged up 9.2 per cent from 541 to 591. 

The demand for petrol models plummeted, with registrations falling 23.8 per cent from 3,722 to 2,837. It meant the market share for petrol cars came in 28.2 per cent in March.

Tesla’s Model Y, pictured, led the sector’s electric charge after selling 480 units and accounting for 4.8 per cent of the market. It attracted 65 registrations in March 2025.

Hyundai’s Tucson was next after recording 304 sales – a year-on-year increase of 164.3 per cent from 115 – and securing a three per cent market share.

The Toyota RAV4 was the third best-seller in March with 295 units and 2.9 per cent of the market, while the MG ZS was fourth on 279 and 2.8 per cent. Toyota’s Corolla Cross completed the top five with 277 and 2.8 per cent.

Year-to-date, there have been 26,198 sales, which is up by 11.8 per cent from 23,442 at the same stage a year ago.

The RAV4 is the best-selling model so far in 2026 with 1,302 sales and a five per cent market share. Mitsubishi’s ASX is second on 1,070 and 4.1 per cent.

Toyota topped the marques’ ladder in March with 1,258 registrations – down 26.4 per cent from 1,709 in the same month a year ago – and 12.5 per cent of the market. 

Mitsubishi was second with 711 sales and 7.1 per cent and Kia came third on 659 and 6.5 per cent. Reflecting the shift towards EV sales, BYD and Tesla were next on the ladder with 646 and 538 units respectively.

Toyota is the leading marque year-to-date with 4,066 registrations and a 15.5 per cent slice of the market.

Next is Mitsubishi with 2,425 registrations and 9.3 per cent, and Kia on 2,320 and 8.9 per cent.