Audi e-Tron #1 in May, but Tesla Model 3 leads YTD
Registrations remained positive in Belgium last month, with 1.248 passenger plug-ins registered, up 3% YoY, enough to keep the YTD tally in the black (+8%).
The February result (2.4%), kept the 2019 PEV share at 2.5%, in line with the 2018 (2.5%) result, but below the 2017 (2.7%) score.
But if at first sight, this is a stagnating market, looking at numbers in detail, there are seismic changes happening, Belgium was known not that long ago for its PHEV addiction (in 2017, PHEVs had 82% share), but now BEVs are replacing plugin hybrids, with these last ones dropping 30% YoY, while all-electric registrations are jumping 123%, and the BEV/PHEV sales breakdown is now showing BEVs winning the upper hand (54% vs 46%), for the first time since 2014.
Proof of that is that 3 out of the first 4 models in May were BEVs, with the Brussels boy Audi e-Tron winning its first domestic trophy, with 100 registrations, a new personal best, that might mean that the Audi SUV production has finally passed the early production issues. This score allowed Belgium's homegrown BEV to jump two spots in the ranking, now in #8.
The 2019 ruling leader Tesla Model 3 was 2nd, with 99 units, while both the Renault Zoe and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV scored 96 registrations, a meritable score for both nameplates, considering they are in the market for quite some time now.
But the Climber of the Month was the evergreen VW e-Golf, that thanks to 53 registrations, its best score in 16 months(!), jumped four positions, to #15. It seems there are a lot of people wanting to drive an EV, but don't want others to know it...
Other noticeable performances were the Mercedes E300e/de twins, that scored a record score of 47 units last month, helping it to climb two positions, into #17, while the Tesla Model S scored its best result in the last 9 months(!), with 56 deliveries, so it seems the Tesla flagship is recovering ground already, possibly thanks to the recent specs upgrade.
In the manufacturers ranking, things are more balanced than in the models race, with Tesla (18%) leading the way, but closely followed by Volvo (16%) and BMW (15%).
The 4th placed Nissan (7%) is too distant to aspire a medal position.
While BEVs are on the rise, in the top10, BEVs amount to nearly 2600 vehicles while PHEVs reach almost 1900 vehicles with just 4 nameplates. There are great chances this is seasonal and maybe next year numbers will scramble once again.
ReplyDeletewritten by Looney Tunes
Not sure what you are trying to say? According to your calculation, BEVs have a slightly higher share in the top 10 than in total sales; which is unsurprising -- and probably true in most markets -- since PHEVs have few standout models: rather getting numbers from a broader range of mediocre models...
DeleteRegarding future trends, it's a bit tricky. On one hand, a bunch of PHEV models are being re-introduced with slight upgrades just enough to meet new subsidy requirements; and also a bunch of new models are being added in the face of upcoming stricter fuel economy requirements... However, PHEVs generally do not change much (beside the subsidy-driven slight range improvements) -- so I expect growth to be rather linear with increasing number of models. BEV models on the other hand are not only getting more numerous, but the new models (as well as upgraded existing ones) tend to be way more desirable than older ones -- so growth should take a more exponential trajectory...
In other words, while PHEVs might possibly recover a bit of share in the near term, BEVs should skyrocket over the next couple of years.