Volkswagen Group Shines, However Volkswagen Disappoints — Europe EV Gross sales Report

Join every day information updates from CleanTechnica on electronic mail. Or comply with us on Google Information!

Roughly 260,000 plugin automobiles have been registered in October in Europe, +24% yr over yr (YoY). The general market additionally grew by double digits, +14%, however this outcome was nonetheless down 15% on October 2019, the final regular month available on the market.

Final month’s plugin automobile share of the general European auto market was 25% (16% full electrics/BEVs). With that outcome, the 2023 plugin automobile share remained at 23% (16% for BEVs alone).

Many of the plugin automobile progress got here from BEVs, which have been up 39% YoY, whereas PHEVs have been up by simply 3%. Pure electrics accounted for 65% of all plugin gross sales in October, towards a 2023 common of 67%.

The highlights of the month have been the #2 Skoda Enyaq and #3 Audi This autumn e-tron, which had report outcomes, compensating for the Volkswagen ID fashions’ absence from the highest spots. However let’s look nearer at October’s plugin prime 5:

#1 Tesla Mannequin Y — For the twelfth month in a row(!), Tesla’s crossover was the very best promoting EV in Europe, and with no different mannequin breaking into five-digit performances, one can’t actually think about who or what might break the Mannequin Y’s domination in Europe. In October, the midsizer had 11,583 registrations. Nonetheless, this yr might be thought-about “Peak Mannequin Y” in Europe. The midsized crossover ought to proceed to publish related ends in the approaching quarters in Europe, however don’t count on gross sales to extend considerably over present volumes, as I’m assured the Mannequin Y has already reached the market’s pure limits. In spite of everything, the Mannequin Y, an costly midsize mannequin, is already Europe’s greatest promoting mannequin within the total market…. Additionally limiting its progress would be the refreshed Tesla Mannequin 3, which might steal some gross sales from it, even when Europeans aren’t actually into sedans today. Relating to final month’s efficiency, the Mannequin Y’s largest European markets included the UK (1,905 items), France (1,833 items), Germany (1,649 items), Belgium (673 items), and different international locations at considerably decrease volumes.

#2 Skoda Enyaq — The Czech crossover is a certain worth within the EV enviornment, and has even managed to attain a report month in October, with the great trying crossover ending the month with a podium presence because of 8,463 gross sales. Count on gross sales to proceed robust within the coming months, particularly now that manufacturing constraints have lastly ended. Relating to the Enyaq’s October outcomes, its largest market was Germany (2,579 registrations), adopted at a distance by Sweden (808 registrations) and Switzerland (628 items).

#3 Audi This autumn e-tron — Audi’s compact crossover received a podium presence in October because of 7,764 registrations, a brand new report for the premium compact crossover. With elevated manufacturing availability, the Audi EV is now solely depending on demand to enhance its performances. Relating to the This autumn’s October efficiency, its major market was the UK (1,960 registrations), adopted by its home market of Germany (1,867 registrations) after which at a distance by Belgium (778 registrations), a identified stronghold for the four-rings model.

#4 Tesla Mannequin 3 — This was the primary month that the refreshed sedan was delivered in Europe, and one can say that it acquired off to an excellent begin, scoring 7,149 items in October. The US sedan is anticipated to have a robust finish of the yr, with the Mannequin 3 probably even breaking its sibling’s domination on the prime of the rating in December when the Toyota-fied sedan is anticipated to have an above-average “excessive tide.” Taking a look at October’s efficiency, Germany (1,607 registrations) was its largest market, adopted by France (1,353 registrations) and the UK (753 registrations).

#5 MG4 — The dragon slayer hatchback is fulfilling SAIC’s greatest expectations, with one other prime 5 presence because of 6,951 registrations. With virtually unbeatable worth for cash, and the small element of being 10,000 euros cheaper than its most direct competitors (the VW ID.3 and Renault Megane EV), the Sino-British mannequin is turning into the reference level in Europe’s compact hatchback class. This class was the sheer definition of what a European automobile was, with examples just like the VW Golf, Skoda Octavia, and Opel Astra. Relating to the MG4’s October efficiency, this time its major market was not the UK (1,497 registrations), with greater volumes delivered in France (1,864 registrations) and Germany (1,722 registrations). Speak about profitable within the opponent’s subject….

Taking a look at the remainder of the October desk, we must always spotlight the year-best results of the #6 Dacia Spring, 6,150 registrations. With the top of subsidies for Chinese language EVs in France coming quickly, count on the Sino-Romanian to proceed posting robust outcomes via the yr finish.

The BMW i4 additionally hit a yr greatest outcome, 5,311 registrations — the prime instance of the BMW Group’s robust ends in October. As well as, the #11 BMW iX1 posted a constructive 4,593 registrations, the veteran Mini Cooper EV had a year-best rating, 3,810 registrations, and down beneath, we’re beginning to see the lately launched BMW i5 ramping up quick, having reached 1,029 items this month. Certain, that is nonetheless removed from the two,702 items of the complete measurement chief Audi Q8 e-tron, however I’d not be shocked if in some six months, the great trying Beemer (a rarity, today…) began respiratory on the again of the large fats Audi.

Nonetheless on the subject of the complete measurement class, we must always spotlight that the very best promoting mannequin in October was not the Audi Q8 e-tron, however its Volkswagen Group stablemate, the Porsche Cayenne PHEV. Because of a deep refresh, together with a brand new 26 kWh battery, the sports activities SUV (one of many few fashions the place such a moniker truly is smart) reached report heights. It scored 2,979 registrations, thus permitting it to beat the Audi SUV, the present class chief.

In October, the very best promoting plugin hybrid mannequin was the Ford Kuga PHEV, which resulted in #14, adopted by the Mercedes GLC PHEV in #17 and the Volvo XC60 PHEV in #19. Count on the German SUV to be a robust contender for the class title subsequent yr.

Under the highest 20, in addition to the beforehand talked about fashions, we must also spotlight the Peugeot 308, which had a report 2,227 registrations, a brand new report. Though, intriguingly, solely 150 items belonged to the BEV model….

Wanting on the 2023 rating, with the Tesla Mannequin Y having 3 times as many deliveries because the runner-up Tesla Mannequin 3, the eye is now centered on the remaining podium positions.

However even there, it appears the selections are already made. The VW ID.4 doesn’t appear capable of compete for the runner-up spot, particularly contemplating latest demand points on the a part of the German crossover, in addition to the truth that the Mannequin 3 ought to have a BIG December.

If the rostrum standings finish as they presently are, then the 2023 podium can be precisely the identical because the 2022 version.

However, concerning the #4 Volvo XC40, its place isn’t but secure, because the #5 Skoda Enyaq is rapidly closing in on the Belgian-built Swede. We’d have a shock right here in direction of the top of the yr.

Audi’s This autumn e-tron was the Climber of the Month, leaping to seventh place, surpassing the VW ID.3 within the course of. The ID.3 was as soon as seen as the longer term successor of the VW Golf, born to steer the European market. Oh, how these days are gone….

The remaining place modifications got here within the second half of the desk, with the BMW i4 climbing to #15 at the price of the Cupra Born and the BMW iX1 becoming a member of the desk in #18, confirming the crossover’s reputation.

Within the auto model rating, Tesla is main with a cushty 12.1% share of the plugin market, however it has seen its share drop in October by 0.6% share. We shouldn’t learn an excessive amount of into this, as it’s the first month of the quarter. Most probably, Tesla will get well the misplaced share within the subsequent two months.

However, Volkswagen retains on shedding share. It’s now down to eight.2%, dropping 0.2% in comparison with the earlier month as a result of a sluggish month from its ID.3 and ID.4 greatest sellers. The German model has misplaced 0.5% share in simply two months. Does this imply that one thing is rotten within the Kingdom of Volkswagen? 

Cashing in on Volkswagen’s woes, rising BMW (8.2%, up 0.1%) surpassed the Wolfsburg make, with the Bavarian now the brand new runner-up. Which means that the 2023 podium is now replicating 2022’s last standing.

And it might be worse nonetheless for Volkswagen, as a result of #4 Mercedes (7.7%, up from 7.6%) can be on the rise, and with solely 0.5% share separating these two, we’d even see the German model being kicked off of the rostrum!

However whereas the Volkswagen model is bleeding, its premium cousin, Audi, is on the way in which up. After a big rise from 5.4% share to five.6% in October, the Ingolstadt make has surpassed Volvo (5.6%) and is now fifth, some 600 items forward of the Swedish model.

Arranging issues by automotive group, regardless of the namesake’s model drop, Volkswagen Group was as much as 20.6%, from 20.2% in September. That’s because of sensible performances throughout the board: from Porsche (Cayenne PHEV report rating) to Skoda (Enyaq report rating), passing by Audi (Audi This autumn report) and Cupra. This, added to a slight drop from runner-up Stellantis (13.9%, down from 14% in October), allowed the German conglomerate to extend its lead even additional.

This raises a big query: If all of the remaining manufacturers from the VW galaxy are rising, why is Volkswagen dropping? Don’t blame it simply on the MEB platform and excessive prices, as a result of the opposite manufacturers are cashing in on it. In my perspective, it’s the design and the way the ID fashions are being marketed. Whereas one is aware of what a Skoda Enyaq is and stands for (practicality and worth for cash), and the identical for the Cupra Born (Golf GTI for the electrical period) and the Audi This autumn e-tron (a compact model of the Audi Premium-ness bratwurst), the VW ID.3 & 4 are … too center of the street. And whereas that might be compensated for with aggressive pricing, as a result of their costs are common, at greatest, Volkswagen is watching its patrons go elsewhere.

Again to the highest 5 OEMs, #3 Tesla was right down to 12.1%, whereas off the rostrum, #4 BMW Group was as much as 9.8%. We’ve got a brand new #5 within the type of Hyundai–Kia. That is the third place change in a row occurring within the fifth spot. Beforehand, in August, Hyundai–Kia eliminated Geely–Volvo from the highest 5. Then, Mercedes Group eliminated the Korean OEMs from the final place on the desk in September. Now, Hyundai–Kia (8.4%) has recovered the fifth place, because of a sluggish month from the Mercedes-Benz Group (8.3%), harm by the present transition occurring within the Good model.

Lastly, we’ve got some excellent news for #7 Geely–Volvo: its market share is lastly recovering, going up by 0.2% to eight%.