Portugal March 2020

Tesla SC are getting crowded in Portugal

Tesla Model 3 #2 in the overall market! 15% plugin share!!!

Despite the Coronavírus-related lockdown, that sent the overall automotive off a cliff (-57%!), plugin registrations actually grew last month, with 1.610 plugins being registered, up 25% YoY, with the plugin share jumping in March to an amazing 15% share! (9,3% BEV).

This kind of performance, added to the decline of the overall market, allows the 2020 PEV share  to be now at 11%, almost doubling last year (5,7%) result.

And to think a few months ago i was feeling bold when writing that Portugal could reach 10% share this year...

Although, one should stress that last month great plugin performance in Portugal has one name: Tesla Model 3. 

Last month the Californian brand delivered 514 units of its sports sedan, representing one third(!) of all plugin registrations, allowing it to reach the runner-up spot in the overall market(!) last month, a new best for any plugin model in Portugal, while the 514 registrations represent a new all-time monthly record for a single model, so it could hardly been a better month for the midsizer.

Moving on, the Nissan Leaf was removed from #1 by the hot Tesla Model 3, having seen the #3 Renault Zoe getting closer to it, so Nissan should take the Corona lockdown time to see how it can revive its EV model sales.

Below the podium, the first position changes happened in #5, with the Mercedes C300e/de twins climbing one position, with the three-pointed-star model now only 38 units behind the current PHEV leader, the #4 BMW 330e.

Interestingly, high end plugins are experiencing strong sales, with the Mercedes E300e/de climbing to #8, winning a precious advantage (14 units) over its arch-rival, the #10 BMW 530e.  

We have a new face in the Top 20, with the DS 7 PHEV reaching #20, thanks to a record 28 units, being the 4th PSA model in this Top 20, after the #6 Peugeot 208 EV, #16 Peugeot 508 PHEV and #17 Peugeot 3008 PHEV.

Interestingly, there is not one Volkswagen in the Top 20, and the only VW Group nameplate present is the Porsche Cayenne PHEV(!), in #15...

Below the Top 20, there are three new models getting ready to join the table, with two of them said to be Top 10 contenders, the Mercedes A250e registered 54 units in its first full sales month, while the Opel Corsa EV had 45 registrations in its first full sales month, and surprisingly, the Mini Cooper SE also landed with a bang, with 59 registrations in March, so the British hot hatch could be a surprise this year.

In the manufacturers ranking, there's a new Number One, with Tesla now leading the way (15%), displacing BMW (14%) to 2nd place.

Running for the last medal position, Nissan (10%), Renault (9%), Mercedes (9%) and Peugeot (8%) are all neck-to-neck, with the Japanese maker currently having the upper hand.

Midsize cars 

Pl	Model	2020 Sales
1	Tesla Model 3	605
2	Mercedes C-Class	594
3	BMW 3-Series	573
4	Peugeot 508	207
5	Audi A4	183

Comparing the Model 3 deliveries against its midsize competitors, we can see that the Tesla midziser is leading the category, an impressive performance in a usually conservative (and German-loving) category.

We should also notice that the remaining models also have a significant electrification rate, with 49% of the BMW 3-Series sales belonging to the PHEV version, closely followed by the 41% electrification rate of the Mercedes C-Class and the 38% rate of the Peugeot 508.

The exception to electrification is the Audi A4, with its sales now not only behind its German competitors, but also the Peugeot 508...

Hear the alarm sound, Audi?

Midsize SUVs 

Pl	Model	2020 Sales
1	Mercedes GLC	371
2	Volvo XC60	251
3	Mitsubishi Outlander	144
4	DS 7 Crossback	122
5	Jaguar i-Pace	103

This is the most diversified category, with brands from 5 different countries here, and where electrification is stronger, not only we have a 100% BEV model, but with the exception of the leader Mercedes GLC (13% electrification rate), all the other models have a majority of sales coming from their PHEV versions, with the Volvo having a 60% rate, the French DS having 54%, and the Mitsubishi having 52%.

This last number is surprisingly low, because the Outlander in most European markets with high plugin shares has usually 90%-something electrification rates, which makes you wonder what is happening here, is the 5-seat layout of the PHEV, instead of the 7-seat of the ICE versions, being some kind of deal beaker? Mmmm...

Finally, with new PHEV version of the leader Mercedes GLC still in launch mode, it will be likely that also the GLC improves significantly its electrification rate in the near future, so we could see a 50%-plus electrified Top 5 soon.

Full size cars

Pl	Model	2020 Sales
1	Mercedes E-Class	309
2	BMW 5-Series	288
3	Audi A6	51
4	Volvo S/V90	44
5	Mercedes-AMG GT	36

In the full size car category, there's good and bad news, on one hand, we have the two category leaders with a significant level of electrification (E-Class - 50%; 5-Series - 49%), just like the #4 Volvo S/V90 (48%), while on the other hand, there are two unplugged models in the Top 5.

Fortunately, both models will have PHEV versions soon, with the big Audi being just a question of allocation, as it is already in production, while the sporty Mercedes is said to receive a new PHEV version this year...

But before that, i guess both the Porsche Taycan and the future revised Tesla Model S will outsell it, with the big Volvo's also in danger of dropping from this table.

Full size SUVs

Pl	Model	2020 Sales
1	Porsche Cayenne	86
2	BMW X5	65
3	Volvo XC90	49
4	Mercedes GLE	39
5	LR Range Rover Sport	38

This is possibly the most electrified end of the market, with two models being basically PHEV-only models (Cayenne - 94%; Range Rover Sport - 95%), and with two other having also a large electrification rate (BMW X5 - 55%; Volvo XC90 - 71%), leaving the Mercedes GLE as the bad guy here (<10%).

But there is hope for the Mercedes behemoth, as its new (and promising) PHEV version 350de only last month started to be delivered, so we should see its electrification rate rise significantly.

And lets not forget about the Audi e-Tron, that will surely pick up pace, thanks to the new versions (71 kWh, Sportback...), as well as the Tesla Model X, once it gets the long rumored restyle this year...