European EV registrations fall in July with Tesla on top
23 September 2024
July marked the third consecutive month of decline for electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe. But despite these struggles, which models came out on top? José Pontes, data director at EV Volumes, reviews the results with Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker.
A total of 219,523 EVs, consisting of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), took to European roads in July. This equated to a drop of 6% year on year. BEVs slumped 6% with 144,561 registrations, while PHEVs suffered a larger decline of 8% with 74,962 deliveries.
Provisional tariffs were imposed on BEVs made in China on 5 July 2024. This created a pull-forward effect in the preceding month, with a surge of BEV registrations. However, the all-electric technology’s decline in July was not as severe as originally feared.
European BEV volumes were also impacted by a poor result in Germany. Deliveries for the powertrain plummeted 36.8% in the month, as the segment continued to struggle without subsidies.
EVs took a 21.3% share of the European new-car market in July. BEVs alone accounted for 14% of registrations while PHEVs made up the remaining 7.3%. In the year to date, plug-ins captured 21% of the new-car market, while BEVs and PHEVs took a 13.9% and 7.1% share respectively.
BEVs have a stable hold on the EV sector. In July the technology made up 66% of plug-in deliveries, a figure it has matched in the first seven months of 2024.
Is Tesla’s domination fading?
The Tesla Model Y was once again on top of the European EV market in July, reaching 9,929 registrations.
However, the crossover’s dominance could start to fade, as the market’s natural limits and new competition impact figures. This includes its recently refreshed stablemate, the Model 3, which is cannibalising the plug-in leader’s volumes in some markets.
In second, the Volvo EX30 had a strong month as it finished its registration ramp-up with 6,949 deliveries. This was less than 3,000 units behind first place.
The EX30 is the Swedish brand's cheapest model, starting at €39,000, compared to €40,000 for the petrol XC40. It is also Volvo’s smallest offering, coming in at the size of a Volkswagen (VW) ID.3. This means the EX30 is well-priced propositioned considering its premium standing.
The Audi Q4 e-Tron ended July in third, thanks to 5,580 registrations. The MEB platform model outsold its VW Group siblings, namely the VW ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq. This is despite a higher pricing point, with prices starting at around €50,000.
The compact SUV’s sibling, the Q6 e-Tron, has better specifications but a higher list price. Yet, it is not affecting the Q4’s volumes.
Positivity for VW
The VW ID.4 enjoyed a positive month as it returned to form after a recent refresh. The crossover came fourth, posting 5,421 deliveries, some 160 units away from the top three.
With demand recovering, a full-year top-five position is possible for 2024. However, this will depend on how its made-in-China BEV competitors, such as the MG4, are affected by the provisional tariffs.
The Tesla Model 3 finished fifth, recording 4,976 registrations. This poor performance for the sedan is now expected in the first month of every quarter. The previous best-selling EV in 2019 and 2021 is hoping to keep second place out of reach of the Volvo EX30 this year.
Securing sixth was the Skoda Enyaq with 4,888 deliveries, less than 100 units behind the Tesla Model 3. Then came the BMW iX1, reaching 4,446 registrations as it continued its growth.
Ford’s PHEV winner
The MG4 claimed eighth with 4,404 units, while the Ford Kuga PHEV was July’s most popular plug-in hybrid, posting 4,360 deliveries. It was closely followed by the Volvo XC60 in 10th, recording 4,329 registrations.
In the bottom half of the top 20, the 12th-place Cupra Born confirmed the return of MEB platform models, achieving 3,941 deliveries. In 17th with 3,240 registrations, the Mini Cooper Electric helped push up BMW Group’s results.
Outside the top 20, the Renault Scenic E-Tech ramped up production (2,257 units) and could join the best-sellers table in the coming months. The BMW i5 topped the full-size EV category, posting 2,248 deliveries. Elsewhere, the VW ID.7 achieved a record result in July, reaching 2,187 registrations.
Fight for third
Between January and July, the Tesla Model Y remained the best-selling EV. With 112,659 deliveries, the crossover accounted for 6.8% of plug-in volumes. It was over 47,000 units ahead of its second-place sibling, the Model 3.
The sedan recorded 65,379 registrations, capturing 3.9% of the EV market. It sits a sizeable 19,000 units ahead of the Volvo EX30 in third (46,601 units).
However, there is still a fight for third. The Swedish SUV is just over 5,158 deliveries in front of the Audi Q4 e-Tron in fourth (41,443 units). However, it is unknown how the Volvo EX30, which is currently built in China, will perform under the provisional tariffs.
The first position change in the top 20 occurred in sixth, with the Skoda Enyaq (34,057 units) moving past the Volvo XC60 PHEV (33,597 units). However, the latter remained the best-selling plug-in hybrid in 2024 so far.
Another swap occurred in eighth, as the VW ID.4 (33,501 units) moved past its sibling, the VW ID.3 (32,470 units), after a strong July. The ID.3 is unlikely to achieve another third-place finish as it did in 2022 and 2023.
BMW makes moves
The BMW iX1 joined the top 10 (29,815 units). It passed the Volvo EX40, and its PHEV-version, the Volvo XC40 Recharge (28,339 units).
Another BMW model making moves was the i4 (27,771 units), which overtook the Peugeot e-208 for 12th. The midsize model will now be looking to enter the top half of the table.
Elsewhere, the Ford Kuga PHEV (25,047 units) jumped two spots to 14th in July, moving ahead of the Mercedes-Benz GLC PHEV in 15th (24,499 units). This made the Ford the second-best-selling plug-in hybrid between January and July. However, it remained over 8,500 deliveries behind the category leader.
Finally, the Hyundai Kona EV (21,467 units) passed the Fiat 500e (21,462 units) for 19th. The Stellantis model could also be passed by the Cupra Born, which sat in 21st position at the end of July, before long.
