Spain December 2018

Close race

Despite the lack of incentives, the Spanish plug-in market is growing fast, with December hitting a record 2.256 units, jumping 126% YoY to 2.256 units (and a record 2.3% share), with the 2018 tally ending at over 11.000 units, a 56% increase over the 2017 result, allowing the 2018 PEV Share to end at a record 0.9%. 

This is just a sign of the big changes happening in the mainstream market, with Diesel tanking, being responsible for only 36% of sales in 2018, while in 2017 it still had 48% share. Will we see new Diesel vehicle sales ending by 2021/22? I wouldn't bet against it...

Looking at last month best sellers, the big news were both Smart nameplates pulling record results, with the Forfour ED reaching 340 units and becoming the December Best Seller, allowing it to end the year at #7, while its two-seater sibling rose to #5. Was this a one time event (backlog clearance), or is this a sign that Smart will be a major player in 2019?

In a record month, there were plenty of relevant results, the leader Renault Zoe scored its best result of the year, with 291 deliveries, the runner-up Nissan Leaf delivered a record 204 units, the BMW 225xe A. Tourer jumped three positions to #9, thanks to a surprising 284 deliveries, the Volvo XC60 PHEV also hit a record number of registrations (48), pulling it to #12, and last, but not the least, the local Hyundai importer managed to get 124 units of the Kona BEV in December, with the electric Crossover joining the Top 20 in #14.

After a close race, the final results of the 2018 models ranking crowned the Renault Zoe as the Year Best Seller, adding the 2018 title to its first, of 2017.

The Nissan Leaf collected yet another runner-up place, while the 2016 winner, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, won the Bronze Medal and another Best Selling PHEV title.

On the manufacturers ranking, the race was pretty close, with BMW (13%) finally winning the trophy, its first in Spain, with Smart (12%) stealing at the last moment the Silver Medal from last year winner, Renault (12%).

Looking at this year race, sales will continue to grow fast, with share possibly reaching 2% by year end, with the Zoe and Leaf continuing to be the strongest candidates, while there will be a number of outsiders (Smart EVs, Outlander PHEV, Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Kona BEV…) hoping to get in the middle of the race between the top two.