Bank of Ireland and BYD launch new innovative digital partnership providing Irish car buyers with a seamless purchasing experience
- New online partnership comes as total EV sales overtook traditional petrol and diesel cars for the first time in 2025
Bank of Ireland and BYD Ireland have launched an innovative digital partnership, which for the first time allows consumers to browse the complete range of BYD vehicles, select the car they want, and apply for the Bank of Ireland financing option of their choice directly all on the same website.
Bank of Ireland’s pioneering partnership with BYD, who recorded worldwide sales of over 2.25 million vehicles in 2025 to become the largest seller of electric vehicles (EVs) globally, enables car buyers to benefit from a fully digital, end-to-end experience with real time finance quotations and approvals returned within seconds. As well as streamlining the customer experience, BYD showrooms nationwide also receive qualified leads directly into their dealership.
The launch of the seamless new digital journey comes as recently published CSO figures for 2025 revealed that electric and hybrid cars outsold petrol and diesel for the first time, providing a major boost to the government’s aim to have over 630,000 to 950,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2030. It also aligns with a key national objective of having 30% of the private car fleet switched to electric by that same year.
The combined numbers of EV’s and hybrids sold in 2025 totalled 69,014, with the combined number of petrol and diesel cars sold coming in at 51,783 – a gap of 17,231. The share of EVs among new private cars last year was 19% compared with 15% in 2024.
Bank of Ireland’s EV financing levels also continue to rise, with new lending growing by 50% in 2025, as total sustainability-related lending grew to €16.5 billion at the end of September last year, achieving its end-2025 objective of €15 billion ahead of schedule. The Bank is targeting €30 billion in sustainability-related lending to households and businesses by 2030.
Speaking as the new digital partnership with BYD goes live, Derek Kavanagh, Head of Motor Finance at Bank of Ireland said: “We are delighted to launch this new digital partnership with BYD, which marks a significant step forward for Irish motorists. The new offering makes the car-purchasing journey speedier, providing buyers with an experience unlike any other in the Irish market. The momentum is now significantly behind the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, with 2025’s figures providing clear evidence that EVs have become the most popular choice for Irish car buyers, and Bank of Ireland is proud to play our part in supporting the continued growth of Ireland’s electric vehicle market – a sector we have long championed.”
Paddy Finnegan, Chief Executive at Motor Distributors Limited – the importer for BYD in Ireland – added: “We have a long-standing relationship with Bank of Ireland, and we jointly collaborated on the development of this digital partnership from inception to launch. We are proud that BYD Ireland is the first car brand to bring this new offering to Irish car buyers, particularly as BYD continues its drive to grow market share in this country. As the sales volumes show, Irish motorists are responding enthusiastically to the cost savings that electric motoring can bring.”
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For further information on BYD’s range of electric vehicles and on Bank of Ireland Finance’s flexible financing options please visit BYD Ireland | Test Drive our Electric & Super Hybrid Range