Belgium May 2019

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.

Belgium February 2019

Tesla Model 3 lands

After a dysmal January, registrations recovered in Belgium in the second month of the year, with 1.265 passenger plug-ins were registered, up 18% YoY, but it still wasn't enough to make the YTD tally to leave the red zone (-12%).

The February result (2.6%), helped the 2019 PEV share to recover, now at 2.3%, which nevertheless is still down from the 2018 (2.5%) and 2017 (2.7%) results.

Looking at numbers in detail, Belgium was not that long ago known for its PHEV addiction, now BEVs are recovering significance, with sales last month jumping 194%, and the BEV/PHEV sales breakdown benefitting BEVs (51%), for the first time in many years.

Proof of that is last month podium, with two BEVs in it, with the Tesla Model 3 landing with a bang and stealing right away the monthly Best Seller trophy, with 197 deliveries, while the Nissan Leaf was the 3rd, with 128 registrations. 

The Best Selling PHEV last month was #2, with the Volvo XC60 PHEV registering 142 units, enough to keep the 2019 leadership, although i would say that it won't be in its hands for long...   

Elsewhere, a mention to three new models (2nd Gen Volvo V60 PHEV, Hyundai Kona EV and Audi e-Tron), all posting record numbers, while the evergreen Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV had its best result ever, with 100 units, no small feat for a model that landed back in 2013. 

In the manufacturers ranking, Volvo is firm in the leadership, with 20%, followed by last year leader BMW (17%), while Tesla (12%) recovered the Third place, kicking Nissan (12%) out of the podium.

Belgium December 2018

The Leaf almost tripled sales in 2018

BMW 530e wins 2018 title in transition year

A total of 661 passenger plug-ins were registered last month in Belgium, down 53%(!), this being the 8th drop in the last 9 months, with the 2018 tally ending in the red zone (-8%) in once a fast growing market.

As consequence of this sales drop, the PEV share ended at 2.5% share, below the 2.7% of last year.

Although at first sight it's all doom and gloom, looking at numbers in detail, we see that PHEVs are the ones to blame for this drop, as they are down 18% in 2018 and an astonishing 72%(!) in December, while BEVs are recovering significance, with sales growing 38% this year, and the BEV/PHEV sales breakdown becoming more balanced (72% PHEV, 28% BEV - In 2017 PHEVs had 82%), and in December fully electrics have even surpassed plugin hybrids (53% / 47%) for the first time in years.

But the Nissan Leaf didn't surprised just in December, in the final ranking of 2018, the Japanese hatchback ended in Second Place, with 977 units, although i suspect that if the year had 13 months, the Nissan nameplate would end stealing the trophy from the #1 BMW 530e (993 units). In any case, it was the first time that a BMW won the Models trophy. 

This is the result of the changing times in Belgium, once known for its addiction to expensive PHEVs, the start of the WLTP-standard, added to incentive changes that made short-range PHEVs less competitive and the general feeling that fossil-fueled vehicles are modern-day dinosaurs, is tilting the market in BEV favor.  

Regarding last minute changes, the Tesla Model S managed to reach #10, thanks to 53 units, while the current SUV in the spotlight is the the Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV, a land yacht almost as long as its name, that climbed to #12. 

Finally, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was up one position, to #19, making it the 11th SUV in the ranking. The Belgian Alps will surely have plenty of pluggable SUVs this winter...

In the manufacturers ranking, BMW won the 2018 title, with 23% share (down 2%), being its third in a row, while the runner-up  Volvo (12%) ended the year in Second place, improving on the 2017 result (Third spot), while Porsche (9%, down 2%) held to the last place of the podium.

In the main sub-categories, the Best Selling BEV was the Nissan Leaf, breaking a 5 year rule from the Tesla Model S (-19% in 2018, is it already feeling the Model 3 long shadow?), while Volvo recovered the Best Selling SUV title, with its XC60 PHEV, and in the LCV category, the Renault Kangoo ZE profited the most from the fast growing sales (+105%), to recover the title from the hands of the Nissan e-NV200, doubling sales (125 vs 57) regarding the Japanese van.

Looking into 2019, the BEV uprising should be completed, the Tesla Model 3 should win easily the models title, with over 3.000 units, with a 100% BEV podium being quite possible, thanks to the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 (or Audi e-Tron?). 

Regarding manufacturers, Tesla should take the trophy too, but the race should be closer than in the models side.

Belgium September 2018

Nissan Leaf Best Seller in Belgium: Who would have thought?

BEVs Up, PHEVs Down

A total of 719 passenger plug-ins were registered last month in Belgium, down 41%(!), this being the fifth drop in the last six months, making the YTD tally to hit the red zone (-2% YoY) in once a fast growing market.

As consequence of this sales drop, the PEV share is now at 2.3% share, below the 2.7% of last year.

Looking at numbers in detail, the sole culprits for the drop are PHEVs, down an astonishing 59% in September and 7% in 2018, while BEVs are recovering significance, with sales last month growing 25% (20% YTD), and the BEV/PHEV sales breakdown becoming balanced (54% PHEV, 46% BEV in September) for the first time in years.

Belgium was one of the most PHEV-friendly markets, but it seems the times are changing here...  

Proof of that is last month Best Selling model being a BEV, and interestingly it wasn't a Tesla, but the Nissan Leaf, that had its best month result in 18 months, with 85 deliveries, while the runner-up was the Tesla Model S, with 81 units, being the first time since 2014 that BEVs made a 1-2 win in the monthly ranking. 

The Best Selling PHEV last month was only #3, with the BMW 530e scoring 74 units, allowing it to close in on the 2018 top two, that are suffering from the new WLTP rules, so it seems the BMW sedan is the new main favorite for the 2018 Best Seller title, which would be the first trophy for the 530e anywhere, and would also end the reign of SUVs (2016 #1 - Volvo XC90 PHEV; 2017 #1 - Mercedes GLC350e) in this market, although the #4 Volvo XC60 PHEV could still have a word to say.   

Elsewhere, there was only one change in the ranking, with the Nissan Leaf reaching the Top 10, and in the future it could try to reach the #6 spot. 

In the manufacturers ranking, BMW is firm in the leadership, with 25%, while the new runner-up  Volvo (12%) recovered the Second place, surpassing Porsche (11%).

Outside the podium, Mercedes (9%) is losing pace, and could even be surpassed by the #5 Tesla (#7).

Belgium May 2018

Strange Days

A total of 1,202 passenger plug-ins were registered last month in Belgium, down 14% YoY, this being the second consecutive drop in once a fast growing market, despite the 2018 count being still in positive territory (+7%), there is no easy explanation for this behavior.

Looking at numbers in more detail, the drop came from the PHEV side (-20%), as BEVs had a (slightly) positive month (+8% YoY), with the all-electric team recovering significant share (23%, +5%) in the BEV/PHEV sales breakdown, we have to go back three years, to 2015, to see puré electrics with such high share numbers. A statiscal blip, or is one of the most PHEV-friendly markets losing their love for dual motor plug-ins?  

But back at May results, last month Best Selling models were the #1 Mercedes GLC350e, with 116 units, and the Volvo XC90 PHEV, that with 114 registrations, had its best result this year, with these two being the only nameplates to reach three digit scores. 

The Swedish SUV result allowed it to have highest climb in the ranking, with the XC90 PHEV jumping four positions, to #7, but other high end models also had a positive month, with the Porsche Panamera PHEV reaching the Podium, in Third Place, the Tesla Model X leaping three positions, to #14, and the Volvo S/V90 PHEV twins rising to #18, thanks to 32 deliveries, a new year best.   

Elsewhere, the new Nissan Leaf continues its slow, but steady climb, having risen two positions, to #13, thanks to 67 units, the nameplate best result in 14 months. It seems the local importer is not getting much attention from the Nissan Mothership, as the Sunderland factory is not making Leaf's fast enough and the carmaker is focusing in other markets. 

In the manufacturers ranking, the leader BMW lost share (-3%), to 29%, while Volvo (15%, up 2%) recovered the runner-up place, distancing itself from the now Third Placed Mercedes (13%).

Outside the podium, Porsche and Volkswagen are running for Fourth, both having 8% share, with the Wolfsburg brand leading by just 9 units.

Plug-Ins Versus Regular Hybrids

Pl	Model	May
1	Toyota C-HR Hybrid	361
2	Toyota Auris Hybrid	163
2	Toyota Yaris Hybrid	147
4	Toyota RAV4 Hybrid	136
5	Mercedes GLC350e	116

Combining May sales of regular hybrids with plug-ins, we can see that HEVs are growing faster (+38%) than plug-ins (+7%), with four(!) Toyota hybrids in the lead, while the best plug-in is the Mercedes GLC350e, in Fifth Place.

Twelve months ago, the picture was quite different, with only two HEVs in the Top 5, and two PHEVs in the podium (#2 BMW X5 PHEV & #3 BMW 225xe AT). 

It seems local fleet buyers are dropping Diesel (maybe?) and PHEVs in favor of HEVs.