USA January 2019

Honda Clarity PHEV jumps to #2

Some 17,000 plug-in units were registered last month in the USA, a 42% improvement YoY, with the PEV Share reaching 2.2% in January. 

These results were mostly thanks to the Tesla Model 3 deliveries, that tripled deliveries regarding 12 months ago, while the Honda Clarity PHEV also had a big jump in sales (+97%), allowing it to reach the runner-up place.

Will the Honda nameplate keep this status at the end of the year? 

Looking elsewhere, there isn't much to talk about, except the fact that Chevrolet is not pushing sales, in fact they are down YoY, if the Volt (-5%) performance is not shameful, or surprising, given it it a model in sunset-mode, the Bolt score (-21%!) should sound the alarm at The General HQ, because if sales are down with the full $7.500 credit, imagine a few months from now, when that ends…

A final reference to the Jaguar i-Pace, after the end of the Dutch Fever, the British Crossover is finally ready to start delivering units in volume, and it is already outselling all Crossover/SUVs not named Tesla... 

Looking at the manufacturers ranking, Tesla owns half of the market (49%, to be more precise), while Chevrolet (9%) hangs on to Second Place, ahead of Honda and Toyota, both with 7% share.

Tesla Model 3 & Others

Pl	Model	Jan. Sales
1	Toyota Camry	23.802
2	Honda Accord	18.786
3	Nissan Altima	12.189
4	Tesla Model 3	6.500
5	Hyundai Sonata	6.212

With the Tesla Model 3 selling more than its most direct competitor (Mercedes C-Class) in the Premium Midsize category, i believe at this point it's best to compare the Tesla nameplate with the mainstream midsize competition.

The Tesla midsizer was Fourth last month, far behind the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, but January was always going to be a weak month for the Californian.

Let's see what happens in March.

Tesla Model S & Others

Pl	Model	Jan. Sales
1	BMW 5-Series	3.679
2	Mercedes E/CLS-Class	3.258
3	Lexus ES	3.144
4	Audi A6	1.619
5 6	Cadillac CTS Tesla Model S	886 875

Looking at the large premium car category, the Tesla Model S started the year in 6th, but expect a swift recovery in the coming months, on its way for another Bronze Medal.

Markets Roundup December 2018

I. Big Markets

Let's see how the Big EV Markets fared in 2018:

China

* BAIC EC-Series #1 - Once again the winner, but in 2019 it will have more competition; 

* 1.1 million units - At some point i started to expect 1 million units, and as the year came to an end, not only it got there, but actually surpassed it!. And the Market Share reached 4.2%, a bit more than the 2%-something of the USA or Europe. 

USA

* Tesla Model 3 #1 - First win for the Californian, the first of a couple wins that the nameplate will have until the Model Y lands;

* 350.000 sales - Strong second half of the year, leading to a 2.1% share.

Europe

* Nissan Leaf #1 - The Japanese hatchback won its first title since 2013, but it shouldn't repeat the feat in 2019, as that trophy should go for the Tesla Model 3;

* 386.000 units - Sales continue to grow steadily, with the PEV share reaching 2.5%, with plug-in hybrids losing importance, with BEV's now outselling PHEV's. 

Japan

* Nissan Leaf #1 - Despite lack of real competition, the Nissan hatch did its part and won another title;

* 52.000 units - What can i say, sales have dropped 7% and the PEV share has dropped to 1%. Big disappointment.

Canada

* Tesla Model 3 #1 - The new darling in Canada. How could it be otherwise?

* 43.000 units - Strong, steady growth, with the market share ending at a record 2.2%.

South Korea

* Hyundai Kona EV #1 - Veni, vidi, vici. In only 8 months in the market, the Hyundai model surpassed everyone else, scoring even a new all-time record (11.000 units). The Kona EV is the EV Disruptor in Korea.

* 31.000 sales - A hot market, with doubling sales, and the market share now reaching 1.7%. How high will it reach in 2019? 3%? 4%? 5%? 

III. Other markets

A few words on smaller markets:

New Zealand - Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV turf, PEV share above 1% (1.4%);

Israel - Mercedes GLC350e was #1, market has beaten all records in 2018 and reached 1.4% share. Too many PHEVs, though;

Malaysia - BMW is king here, market is stable at around 1.2% share;

Australia - Slow growth, with the Tesla Model S winning the Best Seller title;

Brazil - Symbolic sales (less than 200 units) in such a large market, BYD e5 was the Best Seller;

Russia - Ditto for Russia (less than 300 units), Nissan Leaf stole the 2018 title from Tesla;

Mexico - Nissan Leaf wins again, in a falling market;

UAE - Tesla turf;

South Africa - BMW are the only ones doing something here;

Colombia - Fast growth is starting to move the needle (0.3% share), Renault Twizy is a popular choice, same as the BMW i3;

Taiwan - Stagnating market (less than 200 units), this time the local Luxgen LCS EV won #1;

India - Considering the size of the market, the 2.000 units registered could be considered symbolic. Tata and Mahindra are the only ones on the market, with compliance vehicles;

Thailand - Less than 1.000 units, the 2018 trophy was still for BMW, but Hyundai should steal the 2019 title.