France March 2019

Tesla Model 3 jumps to #2

The French PEV passenger car market registered 6,136 registrations in March, up 14% YoY, with a big portion of this growth coming from the Tesla Model 3, with 1,153 deliveries last month, the best result ever for a nameplate not called "Renault Zoe".

This result kept the 2019 PEV share at 2.6%, with BEVs alone having 1.9% share.

Looking at last month Best Sellers, the Renault Zoe sales dropped 32% last month, to 1,536 units (the Peugeot e-208 shadow is starting to be felt…), while this month main news came in 2nd place, with the Tesla Model 3 reaching 1,153 units, if those not familiar with this market might feel this is not a disruptive result, after all the Californian remained below the leader Zoe, this event in France is like the Audi e-Tron jumping straight into #2 on the US PEV market. 

Elsewhere, the usual silver medalist Nissan Leaf this time had to be contented with the last place of the podium, with 455 units, its best performance in the last 8 months, while the Kia Niro EV was #4, with 299 deliveries, a new personal best. 

Another interesting event was the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV reaching the 5th spot, thanks to 258 deliveries, beating the current PHEV Best Seller (Volvo XC60 PHEV, 223 units).   

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Renault Zoe	1,536
2	Tesla Model 3	1,153
3	Nissan Leaf	455
4	Kia Niro EV	299
5	Mitsu. Outlander PHEV	258

In a market known for its stability, this time there were a number of changes in the top positions, with the Tesla Model 3 jumping to the runner-up spot, while the Kia Niro EV was up one position, to #5.

The PHEV race is warming up, as 42 units now separate the #4 Volvo XC60 PHEV, and the #6 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, two midsize SUVs. 

Interestingly, the 7 best selling PHEVs are either SUVs or Crossovers, while on the BEV side, 8 out of the Top 11 models are regular cars.

On the second half of the ranking, both Land Rover yachts SUVs hit record numbers, allowing the Range Rover Sport PHEV toclimb one spot, to #11.

Underlining Kia's good moment in France, the Niro PHEV registered 115 units, its best result in 15 months.

We welcome two new models on the Top 20, although only one of them, the Audi e-Tron, is a fresh face, while the other, the BMW 225xe Active Tourer, is a familiar name in this ranking. 

In the brands ranking, Renault (29%, down 3%), continues in the leading position, but has lost a significant share of the market, while Tesla (12%) jumped to the 2nd spot, dropping  Volvo (9%, down 1%) to #3, and kicking Nissan (8%) out of the podium. 

Tesla Model 3 & the ICE competition

Pl	Model	2019 sales
1	Peugeot 508	2,839
2	Mercedes C-Class	2,118
3	Renault Talisman	1,782
4	Tesla Model 3	1,554
5	Mercedes E-Class	1,378

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 being written, comparing the Model 3 French deliveries in its second month on the market, the 1,153 deliveries allowed it to beat every competitor in its category, with the #2 Renault Talisman ending the month with 1,020 units.

But looking at the total Q1 registrations, the Tesla Model 3 was only 4th, although a podium place in the next quarters will not only seem possible, but likely. 

Is the handsome Peugeot 508 having its throne in jeopardy?