Netherlands July 2018

A future Best Seller?

PHEVs recover in fast growing market

July had 1,362 plugin registrations, up 208% regarding the same month last year, pulling the year to date count to 10,444 units (+139%), with the 2018 steady at 3.6%, with last month reaching 3.8%.

The new generation is doing wonders for the Nissan Leaf, performing its fifth consecutive 200-something registrations month, with the VW e-Golf ending July in the runner-up place, with 182 units, while the Tesla Model S was Third, with 164 deliveries, its best first-month-of-quarter result ever, while its Model X sibling also hit a quarter first month record, with 74 units, which could mean that September might see new deliveries records for both nameplates. Do i hear 1,000 each?

Also of interest, is the fact that PHEVs had their best month (312 units) since they were hit by the end of incentives, back in December 2016, with two models shining: The efficient Hyundai Ioniq PHEV scored 64 deliveries in only its third month on the market, while the new Porsche Cayenne PHEV landed with a bang, by registering 61 units in its first full sales month, being the best start for a PHEV in over two years.

Pl	Model	Sales
1	Nissan Leaf	228
2	VW e-Golf	182
3	Tesla Model S	164
4	BMW i3	117
5	Hyundai Ioniq BEV	101

Looking at the 2018 ranking, there were no significant changes in the top positions, as the Best Sellers took some holidays break.

Considering the positive results from Tesla in the usually weak first month of the quarter, above mentioned, the main significant change in the next couple of months on the Top 5 should be the Tesla Model X going after the Second Spot, with the 351 units separating it from the Nissan Leaf probably disappearing, in the next Tesla High Tide (September).

But on the B-League PHEV League there are some interesting developments, if the Porsche Panamera PHEV continues to be Number One, with 254 units (34 in July) and #9 in the PEV ranking, the Best Seller of the Month was for the second time in a row the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV, that finally made its oficial debut in this market thee months ago, with 64 units, jumping two positions to #12. It seems the efficient Korean hatchback could make the PHEV podium soon, with only the leader Panamera PHEV being safe from it.

Speaking of Porsche, the new Cayenne PHEV joined the Top 20, in #16, thanks to 61 registrations last month, the nameplate best performance in this market since December 2015,  with the German SUV possibly going for a podium position in the PHEV ranking by the year end. 

If that were to happen, a 1-3 podium for Porsche in the PHEV league would be a great prelude for the Taycan arrival, wouldn't it?

Elsewhere, the BMW 330e climbed two positions, to #14, thanks to 31 deliveries, its best result in 19 months, which is rather surprising, considering this could be one of the most hardly hit models by the arrival of the Tesla Model 3. Is BMW trying to make the most of the 3-Series PHEV, before Tesla's midsizer casts its long shadow over it?

Outside the Top 20, the Jaguar i-Pace is starting to gain...pace, with 23 units being delivered last month, with the British Crossover now just 6 units away from the #20, expect it to join the table next month, leaping positions from then on, until December. 

In the manufacturers ranking, Tesla (29%, down 2%) is miles ahead in the lead, with the runner-up Nissan (14%) slightly above Volkswagen (13%), while Hyundai and BMW (Both with 10% share), are waiting for an opportunity to join the podium.

Source: RAI Vereniging

Regular Hybrids + Plug-ins Ranking

Pl	Model	July  Sales
1	Kia Niro HEV	619
2	Toyota C-HR Hybrid	291
3	Toyota Yaris Hybrid	279
4	Nissan Leaf	228
5	VW e-Golf	182

If we add regular hybrids to plug-ins, the domination that Toyota has in other markets is diluted here, with the Best Selling Hybrid being the Kia Niro, ahead of the Toyota C-HR and Yaris Hybrids.

Outside the podium, two BEVs show up ahead of the remaining HEVs, with the Nissan Leaf being #4 and the VW e-Golf #5.

Tesla Model S & Others

Pl	Model	2018 Sales
1	BMW 5-Series	2,231
2	Tesla Model S	1,927
3	Volvo S/V90	1,306
4	Mercedes E-Class	1,126
5	Audi A6	882

Despite being the first quarter of the month the Model S held steady in Second Place, mirroring the July results, with the Californian staying only behind the BMW 5-Series, by just 15 units (179 vs 164). 

Tesla Model X & Others

Pl	Model	2018 Sales
1	Tesla Model X	1,119
2	Volvo XC90	574
3	Porsche Cayenne	223
4	BMW X5	207
4	LR Range Rover Sport	172

Big SUV's were hardly hit with the end of PHEV incentives, to the profit of the American Sports-Minivan-SUV, the only one  still selling in significant volumes.

But it seems the Model X has now found competition worthy of the name, with the Porsche Cayenne outselling it (77 vs 74) last month, mostly thanks to its PHEV version, that with 61 units, it represented 79% of all Cayennes registered in July.

This allowed the German SUV to jump two positions to #3, and could even threat the Volvo XC90 in the months to come.

Portugal July 2018

Nissan Leaf is the new Number One

PEV Sales slowed down their growth in the holiday season, growing just 45% YoY, with July registering 577 deliveries (2.8% PEV share), keeping the 2018 Plug-in Share at a record 2.7%, so there's good reasons to be optimistic and even hope for a 3-4% share by year end.

Looking at the fuels mix, this market is known for its diesel-addiction, due to an unbalanced taxation between gasoline (heavily taxed) and diesel (not so much), but even here, these are historic times, with diesel sales down 8%, with July registering a just 52% share for the troubled fuel, while all others increased their sales by two digits or more. At this rate, i wouldn't be surprised if diesel sales would be dead in Portugal by 2024/25... 

Last month the Nissan Leaf continued a sucessful deliveries streak, by delivering 157 units, its fourth consecutive month in the three digits area, allowing it to surpass its Renault Zoe cousin and become this market Best Seller. Expect the Japanese hatchback to continue widening the gap to the French model, as Nissan still has a backlog of orders to take care of.

Moving on, the Mini Countryman PHEV confirms its success by climbing to #6, despite a small electric range (Now imagine if they had a decent range - say 50 kms EPA), while the Volvo XC60 PHEV also climbed to #11 (ditto on electric range).

Speaking of electric range, two good exemples of plug-ins with usable range in their class are the Kia Niro PHEV, that climbed to #18, with the local Kia importer finally sowing the investment previously made on their plug-ins, while a Tesla shows up for the first time among the Best Sellers, with the Model S jumping to #19, it seems at last Tesla Portugal is doing the right moves for the success of the brand in this market.  

In the manufacturers ranking, BMW (25%) is firm on the top spot, followed by the new Second Placed Nissan (18%), while Renault (16%) is now in the last place of the podium.

Source: ACAP

Regular Hybrids and Plug-ins 

Pl	Model	2018
1	Toyota CH-R Hybrid	1,362
2	Toyota Auris Hybrid	971
3	Toyota Yaris Hybrid	771
4	Nissan Leaf	765

The Nissan Leaf success in this market not only allowed it to become the new #1 PEV, but it is also reaching the heights of the Best Selling HEVs, with the #3 Yaris Hybrid just six units away, it won't be surprising if the Nissan BEV will sometime in the future break the chronic domination that Toyota had in the electrified models table in the last few years.

Germany July 2018

 Porsche Taycan: Will it be as good as we imagine?

BMW and Porsche shine, Tesla sinks 

The German PEV passenger car market grew 31 in July, to 5,617 registrations, with BEVs growing faster (+39%) than PHEVs (28%). In 2018, all-electrics are reaching 1% share, while plug-in hybrids grew their share to 1%, making a total PEV share of 2%.

But the most interesting story on the fuels mix is the steady drop of diesel vehicle sales, with another 11% drop in July, with diesel now only representing 32% of the market..At this pace, Diesel sales could be tot in this market by 2022-23...

Looking at July Best Sellers, BMW had another win, this time thanks to the 225xe Active Tourer, that with 594 deliveries, scored its second record performance in a row. Who said family-friendly MPVs weren't hip anymore?

The Kia Soul EV and the Smart Fortwo ED returned to the Top 5, but the most surprising news of July regarded the first full deliveries month of the new Porsche Cayenne PHEV, that with 227 deliveries, it was #9 last month, becoming immediately the Best Selling Luxury PEV on the market, with the Second Best in the class being the Porsche Panamera PHEV, with 194 deliveries. These are all good signs for the upcoming Taycan BEV, so if i were Porsche, i would start right away thinking in ways to scale up the Taycan production, if they want to avoid a Herstellung Hölle...

Pl	Model	Sales
1	BMW 225xe A. Tourer	594
2	Kia Soul EV	423
3	BMW i3	422
4	Smart Fortwo ED	387
5	Renault Zoe	320

Over the years, the German PEV market became known for its constant changes, but it seems July took a break from that, with few changes in the Top 20, the main news were both the BMW 225xe Active Tourer and VW Golf GTE jumping three positions, to #6 and #7, respectively, with the BMW MPV now becoming the Best Selling PHEV.

The other change happened in #15, with the Mercedes GLC350e surpassing the Tesla Model S. 

Speaking of Tesla, the Model S had its lowest result (51 deliveries) since January, which could mean that the Model 3 (Taycan too?) long shadow is starting to be felt on this market.

As for the #12 Porsche Panamera PHEV, the Sports Sedan had its best result in over a year, with 194 deliveries, which together with the positive landing of the new Cayenne PHEV (227 units), could mean that Porsche has finally solved the batteries constraint problem. (Well, it would have to do it sooner or later, as the Taycan will be a battery hungry beast…) 

Germany was always going be a tough market to crack for Tesla (A bit like the BMW i3 in the US - "Small luxury car?!?! Is that even a thing?!?!"), but the moment of truth is nearing, as German BEVs are getting closer to production, it will be interesting to see the impact they will make on the Model S and especially on the Model X sales. 

One can say that the Model S will the be most pressured, because besides the foreign competition, it will have to resist the vacum cleaner effect of its Model 3 smaller sibling. 

In July, the Model S deliveries (51) were down 50% YoY, while the Model X (44) was down 43%...Which says a lot, doesn't it?     

In the brands ranking, we have a new leader, with BMW (17%, up 1%) surpassing Volkswagen (16%, down 1%) while the #3 Smart (11%, down 1%) is watching the new Fourth Placed Kia (10%) getting closer. 

Source: kba.de