May New Vehicle Registrations Holds Ground In May

New vehicle registrations in May 2025 totalled 10,251, a modest 65 units higher than May 2024 (10,186), signaling stabilisation in monthly demand. However, year-to-date figures continue to reflect a softer market, with 51,621 new vehicles registered to the end of May - a 3 percent decline compared with 53,352 over the same period in 2024.

Registration numbers for new vehicles are compiled each month by the Motor Industry Association representing the country’s new vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

Association chief executive Aimee Wiley says while the year-on-year result for May shows encouraging signs, the overall market is yet to regain momentum.

“We probably still have a period of subdued activity to come, but these May numbers do offer some cause for optimism and hopes for better times ahead.”

For cars and SUVs, new registrations at 6,817 showed a small improvement on the 6,369 registered in May 2024; while light commercial (3,016 units) and heavy commercial (418 units) represented a decrease on May 2024 figures of 3,154 units and 663 units respectively.

Toyota’s RAV4 was the top passenger model for the month with 666 sales, followed by the Mitsubishi ASX with 457 units sold and the Ford Everest in third place with 277 sales.

The RAV4 is also the leading model on a year-to-date basis with 3,806 registrations for a 10.5 percent share of the market.

The Ford Ranger held onto top spot in the light commercial category with 1,051 sales and a 34.8 percent market share, followed by the Toyota Hilux with 910 sales and a 30.2 percent share of the market.

Year-to-date registrations show a much closer contest with the Ford Ranger on 3,510 registrations and the Toyota Hilux right behind with 3,438 registrations.

Registrations of battery electric light passenger vehicles (BEV) remained relatively steady over the month, with 447 registrations slightly higher than the 442 such vehicles registered in April.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) with 2,883 registrations and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) at 351 sales were slightly ahead of those registered in April; (2598 and 177 respectively).

Industry Registrations

In May 2025 10,251 new vehicles were registered, representing a 0.6% increase (65 units) over May 2024 and a 23.2% decrease (3,103 units) compared to May 2023.

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