Monday, September 23, 2019

Portugal August 2019

Resultado de imagem para mercedes E300e vs bmw 530e

PHEVs strike back

PEV Sales were up 28% last month, with 757 plugins being registered, with plugin hybrids surprisingly growing faster than all-electrics (+30% vs +26%), allowing PHEVs to recover ground regarding BEVs (48% for plugin hybrids in August, versus 37% YTD).

This moderate growth, added to the decline of the overall market (-6% in 2019), allows the 2019 PEV share to grow to 4,8% (6,1% in August), with this year count (7.574 units) being significantly higher (+56% YoY) than last year result.

The reinvigorated Nissan Leaf remains in #1 (for how long? September? December?), followed by the off-peak month Tesla Model 3, while the #4 Mercedes E300e/de twins continue to race with the #5 BMW 530e are closely running for the Best Selling PHEV title (and best selling luxury vehicle award too).

Why are these two luxury cars so high in the ranking? Well, it all has to do with the local incentives, as there are significant company car incentives for all plugins (BEV and PHEVs), but with a price cap, that prevent nameplates like the Tesla Model S to access them, while these two fit right under the price cap, allowing them to maximize incentives (basically, they are the priciest cars that can be included in the incentives pack).

Below the top spots, the first position change happened in #9, with the BMW 225xe Active Tourer jumping two positions, thanks to 68 registrations, its best result ever.

And that wasn't the only PHEV climbing positions, as last month saw several plugin hybrids stepping up spots: the Volvo XC60 PHEV was up one position, to #12, the #17 Porsche Panamera PHEV also climbed one position, while the Volvo V60 PHEV is now in #19, thanks to 18 deliveries, the nameplate best result in over a year and a new record for the new generation of the Swedish Station Wagon.

Why this counter-current PHEV resurgence in Portugal, when BEVs are taking over the rankings across Europe?

I believe it has to do with the high share of company cars on the local plugin market, added to the fact that PHEVs still receive the same fiscal treatment/incentives as BEVs.

In the manufacturers ranking, things are pretty balanced, with Tesla is leading the way (18%), while Nissan and BMW (both at 16%) try to reach the US carmaker.

Outside the medal positions, Renault (9%) is the only close enough to bother the podium bearers.





4 comments:

  1. What's up with the Kona? Just a temporary glitch: or are allocations perhaps exhausted, like with the Niro?...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Allocations. New orders are now only to be delivered in 2020...

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  2. Maarten VinkhuyzenSeptember 24, 2019

    Company-car buyers like FFV with the incentives of BEV. We did discover that in the Netherlands and paid dearly for that lesson.

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    Replies
    1. I know, it's not as bad as it once was in The Netherlands (there is a price cap, BEVs have benefits that PHEVs have not, etc), but it is still distorting the market.

      And guess where many Opel Ampera firstly registered in Dutch lands have migrated to, as second hand units?

      Yep, sunny Portugal.

      Delete