Netherlands April 2020

Kia Niro EV #1 in Covid 19 impacted market

With the Netherlands not experiencing a full lockdown, the slowdown hasn't been as devastating as elsewhere, with the overall market dropping just 53%, while the local plugin market this time wasn't able to escape red numbers, dropping 14% YoY in April, to 2,139 plugin registrations, this market's first two digit drop since 2017.

Because the plugin market drop was less disruptive, April's PEV Share was still in firm two digits, at 14% (10% BEV), keeping the 2020 PEV share at 12% (9% BEV), which is still below the 15% of last year, but double the 2018 result (6%), so considering the second half of the year should see a return to the growth fast lane, the Dutch plugin market could still end North of last year result.

Looking at last month Best Sellers, we should bear in mind that these results are influenced by the supply chain logistic challenges that the current pandemic is placing, so the Best Sellers reflect not only demand, but also how well local importers can move (and deliver) metal in the current context. 

With this out of the way, last month we see the Kia Niro EV win its first monthly Best Sellers title of 2020, with 364 deliveries, while the VW e-Golf continues imune to the VW ID.3 shadow, collecting another podium position.

In an off-peak month, the Tesla Model 3 managed a meritable 3rd position, with 191 units, while the Hyundai Kona EV jumped to 4th in April, repeating February's positioning.

But the surprise of the month was no doubt the 5th spot of the Ford Kuga PHEV (Euro-spec Ford Escape), that in just its second full month in the market, crossed into three-digit performances, becoming last month Best Selling PHEV. Pent-up demand, or is Ford finally having a plugin success story in Europe?

Either way, i believe this could be a good opening salvo for the Blue Oval true EV Sales champion in Europe: The Mustang Mach-E.

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Kia Niro EV	364
2	VW e-Golf	200
3	Tesla Model 3	191
3	Hyundai Kona EV	180
5	Ford Kuga PHEV	106

Looking at the 2020 ranking, the Kia Niro EV profited from last month good performance to jump two positions, up to the runner-up spot, all while reducing the distance to the leader Tesla Model 3 to just 277 units, and with the Californian probably not benefitting from the usual end-of-quarter peak in June, due to the current Freemont shutdown, the Korean crossover could even end the first half of the year in the lead...

...Only to lose it by Q3, once fresh Model 3 units land.

And the Second Place could also be in danger, if (a big IF) the VW ID.3 market launch follows as expected, as in, with a major bang, the hot Volkswagen will surely go after Silver, and run with the Model 3 for the Monthly trophies.

The remaining ranking action is only visible in the second half of the table, with the #10 Renault Zoe and #11 Nissan Leaf surpassing the BMW X5 PHEV, with the big Bimmer now having the Mini Cooper EV right behind it, so expect the spicy hot hatch to dribble around it like Lionel Speedy Gonzalez Messi and reach #12 in May. (Or not, with the current plant shutdowns, May could see several models running out of inventory...) 

Kia's good moment is also thanks to the new Soul EV, that climbed to #15, thanks to 38 registrations, while the Niro PHEV scored a record performance in May, by delivering 34 units.  

The Audi e-Tron was up to #16, while the Hyundai Ioniq Electric rejoined the ranking, in #17, making 4 Korean models in the table.

Outside the Top 20, a reference to the #21 MG ZS EV, just 1 unit away (189 units in 2020) from a table presence, while the #22 Ford Kuga PHEV is also on the tail of the #20 BMW i3, having registered 187 units so far, so expect these two to join the ranking soon.

Finally, the still in ramp-up mode Porsche Taycan registered a record 28 units last month, with the German Sports Sedan picking up enough speed to leave the Tesla Model S behind (89 units for the Porsche in 2020, 53 for the big Tesla), although one wonders if it will have enough pace to secure a Top 20 presence.

Speaking of sports cars, the Polestar 1 debuted last month, with its first 7 units, don't expect much sales coming from this one, although the same can't be said about the brand second album model, the Polestar 2...

In the manufacturers ranking, Tesla (14%, up 1%) is still the leader, but has only a 54 units advantage over the rising #2 Kia (13%, up 2%), while Volkswagen (11%) is Third.

Outside the podium, we now have Volvo (9%) in 4th, surpassing Opel (9%, down 1%), that is suffering from the end of the Ampera-e fire sale, and the slow ramp-up of the Corsa EV and Grandland X PHEV.