New car registrations rose 14% last month, according to the latest data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).
8,941 cars were registered during the period, up from 7,857 in the same month a year ago.
Electric car sales reached 17% of the total, as the switch to electric motoring continued.
A similar proportion were hybrid while plug-in electric hybrid accounted for 8%.
Petrol remained the most popular fuel type and made up almost 33%, while 22% were diesel.
Year to date, sales are now 16% ahead of last year, but still 8% behind pre-Covid levels.
Imported used cars fell 9.1% compared to April last year, although year to date imports are up 2.8% on 2022.
"Commercial vehicle registrations both the heavy and light sectors, demonstrated strong growth for the month of April," said Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General.
"Electric vehicle sales continue to power ahead with 1,870 new electric vehicles registered in April and 11,164 registered so far this year, a 49% increase on the same period 2022."
"The Electric Vehicle share of the new car market has increased each month this year, with sales for the month of now April representing over 20% of the market."
Mr Cooke added that despite the momentum behind new EV sales they still need to be incentivised if we want to continue growth in the new market share, but also create an active used EV market.
Fleet management software and telematics provider, Geotab, said that although sales of electric vehicles are on a positive trajectory, they would have to be "turbo charged" if there is to be any chance of the Government target of one million EVs on the roads by 2030 being met.
"While electric vehicle sales year to date are up almost 50% this year and annual sales almost doubling each year at this point, we would have to see sales reach approximately 12,000 EVs per month if the target is going to be achieved," said Geotab Vice President, Ireland & UK, David Savage.
"That's the equivalent of the entire car market switching to electric vehicles overnight. Right now, EVs account for approximately 20% of monthly new car registrations, but that stands in stark contrast to Norway where the same figure stands at 80% on average."
