Canada February 2019

Tesla Model 3 firm in the lead

January registered some 2.700 plugins in Canada, up 38% YoY, with the 2019 PEV share rising to 2.2%.

After a weak year end, due to the focus on deliveries south of the border, the Model 3 is back on track in Canada, with the midsizer being responsible for one third of all plugin registrations this year. 

On the other hand, the Nissan Leaf had a big tumble this month, dropping two positions, to 4th, with the 129 registrations made in February being the worst result in the Leaf 40 kWh career...The 62 kWh version is badly needed to pick up sales, Nissan.

Chevrolet had reasons to smile last month, with both models climbing positions, the Volt to #2 and the Bolt to #6, while the Honda Clarity PHEV joined the Top 10, thanks to 162 deliveries, its best result in the last 7 months.  

Regarding the manufacturers podium, Tesla (41%) is head and shoulders above the competition, while Chevrolet (14%) is in Second Place, with Mitsubishi (8%) now in Third Place.

Tesla Model 3 & Others

Pl	Model	Feb. Sales
1	Ford Fusion	1.027
2	Toyota Camry	920
3	Tesla Model 3	900
4	Honda Accord	605
5	Mercedes C-Class	537

Looking at the midsize vehicles general ranking, this time the Model 3 was 3rd, as the Toyota Camry managed to overcome it.

Looking into 2019, expect the Model 3 to continue running for the mainstream midsize category leadership, as the Premium midsize title seems to be already in the bag.

Germany February 2019

"Kiss my back, b*****s!" 

Tesla Model 3 #1 in February

After a great January, the German PEV passenger car market continued on the right track in February, up 24% to 6,618 registrations, with BEVs continuing to increase its share (70%, +1%) against PHEVs.

With the mainstream market posting its first positive result in 6 months (+3%), the PEV Share dropped 0.1% in February, to 2.5%, the same result as in the 2019 share, with BEVs alone hitting 1.8%.

Looking at February Best Sellers, the Tesla Model 3 landed with a bang (where have i heard this before?), by delivering 959 units and jumping straight into the leadership, displacing  the usual leader Renault Zoe, that registered 782 units.

The BMW i3 was 3rd, thanks to a near-record performance of 694 deliveries, while behind it we have the solid-as-cement Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, that registered 544 units, the SUV best result ever(!) in its 5 year career in this market.  

But the surprise of the month was the Hyundai Kona EV reaching the 5th Spot, that with 400 deliveries, broke its personal best for the 4th(!) consecutive month. Will we see it more often here? You bet you will...

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Tesla Model 3	959
2	Renault Zoe	782
3	BMW i3	694
4	Mitsu. Outlander PHEV	544
5	Hyundai Kona EV	400

The German PEV market is known for close races and constant changes, and last month was no exception, first of all, the BMW i3 rose to #2, benefitting from the dysmal performance of the VW e-Golf, that with only 281 units, it had its worst result in the last 6 months...Is the German hatchback already feeling the heat coming from the Tesla Model 3 and remaining long range BEVs?   

Speaking about the Tesla midsizer, the Californian jumped to #4, and is now going after the podium bearers, while the Nissan Leaf climbed to #7, apparently the 40kWh version of the Nissan EV still has enough juice in it to keep it in the Top 10, the question is, for how long? 

The BMW 225xe A.Tourer recovered from a terrible January and registered 335 units in February, allowing it to jump back into the Top 10, in #9.

Outside the Top 20, we should mention the record 92 deliveries of the Jaguar i-Pace and the 58 registrations of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV, two nameplates that have been slowly, but steadily, ramping up sales and could be a Top 20 presence soon.

In the brands ranking, BMW (19%, up 2%) is in the leadership, ahead of the #2 Renault (12%) and #3 Volkswagen (9%, down 3%), that experienced a steep fall, and now has  Hyundai (9%) and Tesla (8%) running just behind it.

Will we see Tesla reach the brands podium next month? 

Tesla Model 3 & the ICE competition

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Mercedes C-Class	4,774
2	Audi A4	3,951
3	BMW 3-Series	2,374
4	Audi A5	1,620
5	Tesla Model 3	959

One of the question marks around the Model 3 in Europe, regarded the impact that it was going to make on this side of the Atlantic, will it disrupt the PEV and ICE sedan market in the same way that it is doing in the US, or will it be more subdued, because it is playing away from home?

The answer is now starting to be written, comparing the Model 3 deliveries in its first month on the market, against its midsize premium competitors, we can see that the local heroes are still significantly ahead, although the Audi A5 is already seeing the Tesla in the rear view mirror...

Also interesting is to see that while the Audi's and the BMW model sales are stagnating, at best, the Mercedes C-Class is up 9% YoY, so it seems Mercedes customers are more immune to the Tesla fever than others.