By James Stinson
Northern Ireland’s new car market enjoyed a strong July, with registrations rising sharply.
Figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show 3,723 new cars were registered in Northern Ireland during July, an increase of 16.5% compared with the same month last year. Year-to-date registrations reached 29,308 units, up 3.3%, suggesting consumer confidence in new vehicle purchases remains relatively healthy.
The latest figures also reveal a clear trend in buyer preferences, with SUVs continuing to dominate showroom sales. Seven of the ten best-selling models in Northern Ireland during July were SUVs or crossover vehicles, highlighting the sector’s enduring appeal among buyers.
SUVs Lead The Way
Leading the pack was the Kia Sportage, which topped the regional sales chart with 160 registrations. The popular SUV narrowly edged out the Nissan Qashqai, itself one of the pioneers of the crossover segment, which recorded 155 sales. Hyundai’s Tucson completed an all-SUV top three on 124 units.
Further down the rankings, the Ford Puma and Ford Kuga occupied fourth and fifth positions respectively, while the MG HS, Volkswagen Tiguan, Vauxhall Mokka and Vauxhall Frontera also featured in the top ten. The only notable exceptions to the SUV trend were the Kia EV3 and, arguably, the Puma depending on classification, although the latter is widely regarded as a compact crossover.
Brand Strength Evident
The chart also highlights the strength of several mainstream brands in the local market. Three manufacturers managed to place two models each in the top ten: Kia, Ford and Vauxhall.
Another noteworthy feature of July’s rankings is the limited presence of fully electric vehicles. The Kia EV3, sitting eighth overall with 77 registrations, was the only pure battery electric model to break into Northern Ireland’s top ten.
That position may not tell the whole story, however. The EV market is entering a period of rapid expansion, with a growing number of smaller and more affordable electric models arriving from both established manufacturers and emerging brands. With increased choice, improving battery technology and government-backed incentives continuing to support demand, it would be no surprise to see a larger EV presence in Northern Ireland’s best-seller charts by this time next year.
UK Market Mirrors Trend
The local figures broadly mirror wider developments across the UK, where the new car market recorded its strongest July performance since before the pandemic.
SMMT data shows that 156,571 new cars were registered across the UK during July, representing an 11.7% year-on-year increase and marking eight consecutive months of market growth.
Much of that growth was driven by electrified powertrains. Battery electric vehicle registrations surged by 44.5% compared with July 2025, giving EVs a 27.5% share of the overall market. Plug-in hybrids accounted for 14.9% of registrations, while conventional hybrids captured 13.2%.
Taken together, electrified vehicles now represent more than half of the UK’s new car market, although industry leaders continue to argue that demand growth remains heavily dependent on manufacturer incentives and discounting.
The SMMT does not publish fuel-type breakdowns on a nation-by-nation basis, meaning no equivalent figures are available specifically for Northern Ireland. However, there is little evidence to suggest local buying habits are dramatically different from broader UK trends, particularly as manufacturers roll out the same product line-ups and incentive programmes across the country.
Outlook Remains Positive
Looking ahead, the SMMT expects the UK market to reach 2.18 million registrations in 2026, with battery electric vehicles accounting for around 27.4% of sales by year end. While that remains below government-mandated targets, the direction of travel is clear.