Hyundai takes over in red hot market
The Irish PEV market is known for its love for the Nissan Leaf, a seven times (2011/12/14/15/16/17/18) winner of the Best Seller trophy, but it seems in 2019 the Nissan crown is in danger, with the Hyundai Kona EV leading the pack since the year started, with both models now separated by 44 units.
This is happening against the backdrop of a hot market, with sales jumping 216%(!) this year, to 2.460 units, leading to a PEV share of 3,4% (4,4% in April), more than doubling the 2018 result.
If the top 2 models are in a race of their own, preparing to shatter the all-time yearly record around summertime, the Kia Niro PHEV, the current Best Selling PHEV, is in the 3rd spot, with 174 units, running ahead of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (122 unis), Renault Zoe (115), BMW i3 (107) and the heavyweight Range Rover Sport PHEV (106).
Below the top spots, a reference for the VW e-Golf, that registered 30 units in April, winning April's Bronze Medal and allowing it to jump to #8, while the Tesla Model S had a strong start of Q2, with 9 deliveries, allowing it to reach #13, and the recently landed Audi e-Tron joined the ranking, in #20.
Looking at the manufacturers ranking, Hyundai (30%) is also leading, ahead of the previous ruler Nissan, now with only 25% share, while BMW is 3rd (8%), with Kia (7%) not far off.
Like everywhere in Europe, Hyundai-Kia has been achieving consistent good performances and consumers recognise them as credible alternatives to long lasting champions. In this first half of the year, there are great chances for Hyundai Kona keeping the top spot, how the Nissan Leaf will perform for the remainder of the year is the great unknown, surely, the last quarter is going to be interesting to monitor closely.
ReplyDeleteHyundai-Kia has some pretty decent BEVs at very competitive prices, and could easily take most podium spots in the majority of markets, if they just produced enough of them to satisfy demand. They have no motivation to do so however, since these are not profitable (and won't be for a few more years), by their own admission -- so they are only interested in selling as many as they need to fulfil regulations :-(
DeleteThe Leaf should get a boost once the long-range variant (e+) finally becomes available; so it might still overtake the Kona...
Regarding #1 though, the Model 3 should start deliveries pretty soon (presumably along with UK), at which point it will likely quickly go to the top just like in the vast majority of other European markets.
Where is Model 3?
ReplyDeleteThere is no demand. The Company is tanking. The germans are coming! They are the best... or at least sixth...
Delete(or maybe they have just not started deliveries in the right hand drive markets yet, I'm pretty sure you will not read this anyway since you don't really car about facts)
I care about facts, yet your comment is empty of facts.
DeleteIt really is impressive how consistently uninformed Heinrich is. Ireland is RHD, RHD deliveries of the Model 3 haven't started yet.
DeleteLooks like April sales are generally rather low, and the models standing out are those few that managed to defy this trend -- presumably because of waiting lists?...
ReplyDeleteInteresting perspective, thanks!
Delete