France March 2018

Record Month 

The French PEV passenger car market registered a record 5.402 registrations, up 41% YoY, this time with both technologies (BEVs +40%, PHEVs +45%) pulling the market up to 10,892 units in 2018, up 17% YoY.

This record month allowed the 2018 PEV share to jump to 2%, already above last year result.

Looking at March Best Sellers, the Zoe (#24 in the mainstream market) has scored its best result ever since it landed in 2012, with the Renault BEV scoring 2,245 deliveries, with the runner-up Nissan Leaf also scoring a personal best, with 719 deliveries. 

Underlining the March Madness this market had, the Third Placed BMW i3 also scored a record result, with 319 deliveries, and not to fall behind, the #4 Tesla Model S also had a best ever result (162 units).

In short, all the top four sellers in March had record numbers. Not bad, not bad at all...

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Renault Zoe	2,245
2	Nissan Leaf	719
3	BMW i3	319
4	Tesla Model S	162
5	Mercedes GLC350e	133

In a market known for its stability, there was a lot to talk about, below the Top 5, two new nameplates joined the Top 20 last month, with the Tesla Model S jumping all the way up to #11, while the Hyundai Ioniq Electric (127 units, new record) reached #15.

Other models on the rise were the Mini Countryman PHEV and the Smart Fortwo ED, climbing one position to #7 and #8, respectively, while the Peugeot electric siblings had a positive month, with the iOn registering 98 units (Year best), while the Partner Tepee EV had 110 deliveries, the nameplate's best result so far.

It seems the French automaker discovered they are missing out from the hottest segment on the market (Plug-ins, of course) and are throwing to the market whatever they have in the stable. Too bad what they have is a 600 9 year old badge-engineered mini car (iOn) and a van with windows (Partner Tepee EV), that could have it's own sales niche, if it wasn't hampered by a small 22.5kWh battery, in world where the direct competitors have 33 kWh (Renault Kangoo ZE), or even 40kWh (Nissan Evalia BEV).

A 22.5 kWh battery in a van sounds sooo 2011...  

Below the Top 20, there are a few notable mentions, the BMW 530e had a record result, with 56 units, while the Tesla Model X delivered 79 units, its second best result in France. 

In the brands ranking, Renault (37%, up 4%) continues in the driver seat, followed at a distance by BMW and Nissan (Both with 10%), while Mercedes and Volvo, both with 5% share, are far from the podium positions. 

Source: Avere France

Netherlands March 2018

If the new Leaf is making waves in the Dutch market, imagine what the Model 3 could do...

Tesla and Leaf shake the market

March had 1,834 registrations, up 123% regarding the same period last year, with last month registering 4,3% PEV share, thus helping the 2018 share to climb until the 3,3%. 

The Tesla Model S was once again the Monthy Best Seller, thanks to 588 registrations, allowing it to beat its own record of 576 deliveries, that dated back from December 2013...

Its younger sibling, the Tesla Model X, also reached record heights, with 283 deliveries, that nevertheless weren't enough to make a 1-2 for Tesla last month, because the new Nissan Leaf scored 299 units in its full sales month, a new record for the Japanese nameplate.

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Tesla Model S	588
2	Nissan Leaf	299
3	Tesla Model X	283
4	VW e-Golf	147
5	Hyundai Ioniq Electric	101

Looking at the yearly ranking, the Tesla Model S jumped three positions, into the leadership, while its Model X sibling jumped five places, to #5, behind the Nissan Leaf, that climbed to Fourth. Expect the Japanese hatchback to climb even higher, possibly even threatening the Second Placed VW e-Golf.

Looking elsewhere, the Porsche Panamera PHEV is now the Best Selling PHEV, in #9, thanks to 35 registrations last month, while the Smart Forfour ED joined the Top 20, in #16.

In the manufacturers ranking, Tesla (26%) is the new leader, having trailed the previous leader Volkswagen (18%, down 6%), while in Third Place we have Hyundai (12%, down 4%), now followed by the rising Nissan (10%, up 4%), set to reach the podium already in April.

Source: RAI Vereniging

Regular Hybrids + Plug-ins Ranking

Pl	Model	March Sales
1	Toyota Yaris Hybrid	665
2	Tesla Model S	588
3	Toyota C-HR Hybrid	541
4	Kia Niro HEV	426
5	Toyota Auris Hybrid	315

If we add regular hybrids to plug-ins, the Toyota Yaris returned to the leadership, with 665 units, followed by the Tesla Model S, with three other HEVs (Two Toyota and one Kia) filling the remaining positions.

Tesla Model S & Others

Pl	Model	March Sales
1	BMW 5-Series	591
2	Tesla Model S	588
3	Mercedes E-Class	173
4	Volvo S/V90	126
5	Audi A6	92

Looking at the March registrations data, the Tesla Model S managed to almost steal the First Place from the BMW 5-Series, ending in Second Place, with the remaining competition ending far behind. 

Better Luck next time (June)?

Tesla Model X & Others

Pl	Model	March Sales
1	Tesla Model X	283
2	Volvo XC90	75
3	LR Range Rover Sport	41
4	Jaguar F-Pace	38
5	BMW X5	36

Big SUV's had a big hit with the end of PHEV incentives, and only the Volvo XC90 manages to have significant sales, but once the Tesla Model X deliveries are in full swing, like it was the case of last March, a last-month-of-quarter peak, there's really no competition for the American Sports-Minivan-CUV.

A mention for the Third place of the LR Range Rover Sport, a positive result that could be reinforced in the future, once the PHEV version deliveries arrive.

Sweden March 2018

Nissan Leaf Lands

A little later than usual, we now have the Sweden sales report, with the local plug-in market celebrating a new sales record, with 2,664 registrations, up 85% YoY, and the yearly tally now at 6,298 units (+63%), placing the PEV Share in record heights, at 7,2%.

Diesel sales continue to sink, down from 51% 12 months ago, to the current 41%. A steep 10% drop, which makes the prediction of symbolic diesel sales by 2025 starting to look somewhat conservative...

Looking at the March Best Sellers, the VW Passat GTE continues to rule without discussion, with the runner-up place going to the Volvo XC60 PHEV (307 units, new record), with the Plug-in version representing 15% of all sales of the Swedish SUV.

In Third, have the new Nissan Leaf, with 250 deliveries in its first full month on the market, a new record for the famous BEV, while in Fourth the Kia Niro PHEV continues to reach new heights, having delivered a record 213 units in March.  

Pl	Model	Sales
1	VW Passat GTE	419
2	Volvo XC60 PHEV	307
3	Nissan Leaf	250
4	Kia Niro PHEV	213
5	Mit. Outlander PHEV	178

Looking at the top positions, the local Volvo XC60 PHEV jumped four positions to Second Place, while the recent Nissan Leaf came out of nowhere into the BEV leadership, stepping up to #7. 

In a record month, there were plenty of models to record new personal best results, besides the aforementioned Volvo XC60 PHEV, Nissan Leaf and Kia Niro PHEV, Hyundai also had reasons to be happy, with its Ioniq Electric reaching for the first time the three digit area, with 114 deliveries. 

Below the Top 20, a mention to the Tesla Model X, that after a dismal start of the year, scored 52 deliveries in March, its best result in nine months.

Close race in the manufacturers ranking, with Volvo (21%) resisting the advances of the last year leader Volkswagen (20%), with the surprising Kia closing the podium, with 15% share (Down 1%).

Plug-Ins Versus Regular Hybrids

Pl	Model	March
1	Toyota Auris Hybrid	781
2	VW Passat GTE	419
3	Toyota Yaris Hybrid	342
4	Volvo XC60 PHEV	307
5	Nissan Leaf	250

Combining March sales of regular hybrids with plug-ins, Plug-ins are in majority this time, the VW Passat GTE was down to Second Place, but this time it had the company of the Volvo XC60 PHEV, in Fourth, and the new Nissan Leaf, in Fifth.

If BEVs (+29%) and especially PHEVs (+123%) are rising, HEV sales are down 5%, suffering from the PHEV fever, so in the short term expect them to be the minority in this Top 5.  

Canada February 2018 & March Preview

Nissan Leaf lands with a bang

With 1.839 registrations in February, sales continue on the rise, with the PEV share now firmly north of the 1% threshold (1.5% in February,  a new record), the Canadian market is being shaken by the arrival of new players, with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV being the main headliner, registering 230 units in only its second full sales month, placing itself between the Chevrolet Best Sellers, while the recent VW e-Golf was Third in February, with 180 units, a new personal best. The Toyota Prius Prime is also rising, with the 135 deliveries allowing it to jump three positions to Seventh.

The new Nissan Leaf also started its career in February, with 179 deliveries, placing it already in Sixth, but the Japanese hatchback has its eyes set on the podium, a difficult task, considering the Canadian love for the Chevy Volt, the flying start of the Outlander PHEV and the fast approaching arrival of the Tesla Model 3.

Another important result were the 93 deliveries of the Honda Clarity PHEV, replicating in Canada the success it is having South of the border, with 93 registrations in its second full sales month. Now, after the USA and Canada, Honda could start to sell it elsewhere, not only in its domestic market, but in Europe also, considering the current (bad) state of the Japanese maker on this side of the Pond, it wouldn't be the worst thing they could do...

Looking into March preliminary results, there's many reasons to be happy about: The Chevrolet Volt had its second best result ever (555 units), the Outlander PHEV continues to grow, clocking 351 registrations, all while the Prius Prime and Clarity PHEV have beaten their sales records, with the first registering 500(!) units, and the second 119. Last, but not the least, the new Leaf had 423 deliveries in its only second sales month, a new record for the nameplate.

Looking at the manufacturers ranking, Chevrolet (29%, down 2%) is stable at the Throne, keeping Mitsubishi (13%) miles behind.

In Third Place we now have Volkswagen, with 8% share, having surpassed Chrysler (7%), but with the rising Nissan (6%) just behind, the VW tenure on the podium will be short lived.

Source: Green Car Reports