Ireland August 2025: Skoda and Octavia lead, BYD Sealion 7 up to #5

The new Sealion 7 helps BYD crack the Irish Top 10 in August.

Irish new car sales edge up 0.9% year-on-year in August to 7,615 units, meaning the year-to-date tally remains in positive territory at +3.4% to 116,099. This month Skoda (+7.5%) snaps the brands top spot with a fantastic 14% share vs. 9.9% so far this year. This is Skoda’s first win since February 2024. For its part Kia (-21.9%) is up three spots on last month to #2 despite a drastic YoY fall, followed by Volkswagen (-21.2%) also in a bad way. Toyota (-15.7%) is pushed down to #4 but remains #1 year-to-date with Hyundai (-11.6%) rounding out the Top 5. In contrast the next four carmakers are in outstanding shape. Audi (+33.3%) is at #6 ahead of BMW (+142.9%), BYD (+243.3%) lodging its first ever Irish Top 10 finish at #8 and Cupra (+370.6%), also in the Top 10 for the first time. Tesla is off -36.6% to #10.

Model-wise, the Skoda Octavia (+11.8%) snaps the lead above the Kia Sportage (-8.3%). The Skoda Kodiaq (-32.3%) rounds out the podium but suffers from a particularly high year-ago basis when it led the charts outright. Still faraway leader year-to-date, the Hyundai Tucson (-24.9%) falls to #4 in August. Launched in April, the new BYD Sealion 7 storms into the Top 5 whereas it ranked #106 last month. It distances the Toyota Yaris Cross (-13.1%) and another new model: the Skoda Elroq scoring its maiden Top 10 finish in Ireland. The VW ID.4 (+41.8%) also impresses at #9 while the Tesla Model Y (+106.8%) is up to #14 with 1.6% share, more than double its YTD level of 0.7% (#44).

Previous month: Ireland July 2025: Hyundai Tucson stays on top despite -37.6% fall

One year ago: Ireland August 2024: Skoda Kodiaq lodges first ever win

Full August 2025 Top 37 All brands and Top 220 All models below.