Europe October 2018

VW e-Golf shines, but Leaf #1

After a slip in the previous month, in October the European passenger plug-in market resumed the growth path (+24% YoY), by registering some 32,300 registrations, pulling the Year-to-date count to over 300,000 deliveries (+34%), while the 2018 market share grew to 2.3%, thanks to a 2.9% share in October.

But growth wasn’t the same on the two sides of the isle, on the BEV side, sales (or should I say, deliveries?) are stepping up (+63%), allowing them to grow their share by +1% regarding the total year breakdown (49% BEV, 51% PHEV), so all-electrics are on track to win the upper hand over PHEVs this year.

On the other hand, PHEVs are still feeling the sting of the introduction of the WLTP standard in the beginning of September, having seen sales decrease by 6% regarding the same month last year, with several models (Mercedes PHEVs, VW Group PHEVs…) effectively ending their careers due to the new regulations.

But the PHEV sales drop wasn’t equal across the category, as some brands (BMW, Mitsubishi, Volvo…) did their homework and weren’t affected by the new rules, leading to some brilliant performances in those particular brands, like the #3 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

In October the top spots didn’t had major surprises, with the only one being the VW e-Golf performance, with the brand PHEV deliveries falling over a cliff, Volkswagen was forced to finally make way for volume production of its e-Golf BEV, with the German hatchback hitting a new deliveries record, with 2,458 units. A sign of times to come?

Looking at the Monthly Models Ranking:

 

#1 Nissan Leaf – Europe’s Best Selling PEV model continues to expand its sales, by registering 4,785 units in October (+285% YoY), its best result since March, and with the orders list still to be satisfied in a number of countries, expect the Leaf to continue to be the default #1 throughout the year. But back at last month performance, with the main market being by far Norway (1,292 deliveries), the Japanese hatchback hit three-digit performances in 12(!) other countries, besides the usual suspects (France, Netherlands, Germany, UK…) the BEV also shined in countries like Denmark, Hungary or even the PHEV-loving Belgium.

 

#2 Renault Zoe – The October 4,061 deliveries meant a 87% growth YoY for the French hatchback and its best score since last March, with deliveries expected to continue at this level until the revised model arrives next year. Anyways, regarding individual market performances, the domestic market did the usual heavy lifting, by registering 1,745 units (+125% YoY), with other significant numbers coming from Germany (609 units, Year Best), Norway (411, YB), and also Sweden (299 units, fourth(!) consecutive record), where the Zoe seems to be a hot item right now.  

 

#3 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – Europe’s favorite family/towing/winter plugin had a recent specs update, and it shows, with the Japanese SUV securing yet another Best-Selling PHEV of the Month award and a podium presence in October, thanks to 2,771 registrations, up 74%, being the nameplate highest result since March ‘16. The plug-in SUV will continue to offer its unique mix of “affordable” space, AWD and utility, with the added bonus of a larger electric range (28 mi/45 kms real world range) and more power (+15 hp) at hand, keeping it popular in markets like the UK, Norway or Sweden. Going forward, with the end of the PHEV incentives in the UK, a market that represents one third of sales, it will be interesting to see where Mitsubishi will find other markets to compensate the UK losses. Will this mean an open race for the PHEV title next year? I mean, the Outlander has been winning hands down every plugin hybrid trophy since 2013…

 

#4 VW e-Golf – It seems the German hatchback is improving from its not-enough-batteries disease, just while VW PHEVs are tanking (a coincidence?), allowing it a Top 5 presence, thanks to a record 2,458 deliveries. Looking at individual countries, Norway (978 units, year best), and Germany (784 units, new record) were major contributors, with The Netherlands (238) also helping to the tally. Looking ahead, expect deliveries to continue strong in the next few months (I mean, with PHEVs offline, they don’t have anything else to make, right?), until VW finally decides to place it in Sunset-mode, as it prepares the ID/Neo launch.

 

#5 BMW i3 – The German Hot Hatch sales increased (+46% YoY) in October, with 2,289 units being delivered, and with the Leipzig factory growing output in order to satisfy the increased demand for the new 42kWh version, the BMW EV is set to continue growing throughout 2019. Looking at last month individual countries, Norway was the largest market for the BMW hot hatch, with 525 registrations, with Germany (426 units, 306 of them BEV) following it.

Finally living up to its full potential?

BEVs on the rise

Looking at the 2018 ranking, the top positions remained stable, in fact we have to go to #8 to see position changes, with the Volvo XC60 PHEV (1,573 units, new PB), BMW 225xe AT and BMW 530e profiting from the expected off month (first-month-of-quarter…) of the Tesla Model X, to surpass it.

Elsewhere, another model from the BMW Group continued climbing positions, with the Mini Countryman PHEV reaching #14, while two BEVs are rising in the second half of the table, with the Hyundai Ioniq Electric jumping 2 positions to #15, thanks to a record 1,035 deliveries, while the Smart Fortwo ED is now #17, becoming the Best-Selling plugin from the Daimler Group…

Outside the Top 20, the big news was the Jaguar i-Pace crossing the 1,000 deliveries in one month (1,163), expect the British SUV to continue ramping up production, in order to satisfy a thousands long order list in The Netherlands and elsewhere.

 

Looking at the manufacturers ranking, last year winner BMW (16%, down 1%) is in the lead, while the runner-up Volkswagen (13%), is watching the #3 Nissan (12%, up 1%) with a close eye, with Renault (9%) in a distant Fourth, ahead of Tesla and Volvo, both with 7%.