Europe’s EV registrations falter in November
29 January 2024
A stagnating plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market pulled overall electric vehicle (EV) registrations into decline during November, while Tesla continued its table-topping success in Europe. José Pontes, data director at EV-volumes.com, analyses the numbers.
In November, a total of 273,872 EVs, made up of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and PHEVs, were delivered in Europe. This marked a decrease of 2% year-on-year, and was the market’s first drop since July 2022. Overall new-vehicle registrations across the continent grew by 6%.
The decline can be attributed to PHEVs, which saw deliveries down by 15% compared to November 2022. Battery-electric powertrains had a more positive month, recording an increase of 5% year on year, as they accounted for 67% of all plug-in sales in November, maintaining the 2023 average of 67% EV-market share.
In total, EVs were responsible for 25% of European new-vehicle registrations during the month, with BEVs taking a 17% market share alone. This kept the year-to-date EV share at 23%, as BEVs took 15%.
Tesla’s top two
The top of the monthly EV best-seller table again belonged to Tesla, but this time with a first and second-place result. The Model Y recorded its 13th consecutive win, just 687 units in front of the Model 3.
November’s victory for the Model Y came from 18,211 registrations, a 7% decrease year-on-year, suggesting the midsize crossover could be reaching its natural limits. The success of the Model 3 may also have caused the carmaker’s leading model to see slower deliveries.
France was the Model Y’s biggest European market reaching 3,218 sales, followed by Germany with 2,840 deliveries and Denmark with 1,324 units.
In second place, the Tesla Model 3 achieved 17,524 registrations, up 43% from the same period in 2022, as it entered the second month of sales following its refresh. The sedan performed well in France, generating 6,081 deliveries.
Italy was the second biggest market for the model, with 1,955 sales. Behind, Germany (1,937 units) was below expectations. The sedan also had an encouraging result in Portugal (1,209 units), beating the Model Y to set a four-digit figure in the country for the first time.
The Skoda Enyaq rounded out the top three in November, totalling a record 8,889 deliveries. With the end of supply chain issues, the crossover is expected to carry on performing well. The model recorded its best registrations number in Germany (3,588 units), followed by France (600 units) and Switzerland (536 units).
Fourth position went the way of Audi and its Q4 e-Tron, reaching 7,118 deliveries. The EV will now be dependent on demand to increase registrations after production constraints eased. Its largest market was the UK (2,150 units), with its domestic market of Germany (1,640 units) and Belgium (958 units) behind.
Rounding out the top five again was the MG4, amassing 6,413 sales. The hatchback is considerably cheaper than its rivals from Volkswagen (VW) and Renault, making the SAIC-backed model the point of reference for the compact segment. High volumes were delivered in France (1,871 units), followed by the UK (1,745 units) and Germany (1,106 units).
Just below, the BMW i4 produced a record-breaking result with 6,055 registrations. Although the midsize model is a placeholder until the Neue Klasse models in 2025, it has performed well in recent months.
Another model from the German brand, the BMW iX1, hit a best-ever tally with 5,538 deliveries to put the model into eighth. Also in the BMW Group stable, the Mini Cooper EV had a solid month, in 18th with 3,700 registrations.
The best-selling PHEV model in November was the Volvo XC60 in 12th with a record 4,474 units sold. The powertrain also saw strong showings from the Ford Kuga PHEV (15th) and the Mercedes-Benz GLC PHEV (16th), the latter of which could compete for a category win next year.
Outside of the top 20, the Peugeot 308 had a record result with 2,566 sales, despite its BEV version contributing only 214 units to the total. The Audi Q8 e-Tron had a positive month as well, reaching 2,974 registrations, the best figure for the SUV since its refresh.
Total domination
In the year-to-date figures, the Tesla Model Y had over double the number of deliveries up until the end of November as its sibling, the Model 3 in second. The sedan also was in a safe position, almost 13,000 units ahead of the VW ID.4 in third.
The chasing Skoda Enyaq in fourth sat 5,000 units behind the ID.4. Below, the Audi Q4 e-Tron moved into sixth, but was over 4,000 deliveries away from the Volvo XC40 ahead. However, the SUV was only 778 units ahead of the popular MG4, which held seventh place in the January to November figures.
In the second half of the top 20, the BMW i4 passed the Renault Megane EV for 14th, just over 1,500 units behind the Kia Niro.
At the bottom of the table, the Kia EV6 held on in November, with the Hyundai Kona EV and the Polestar 2 both sitting less than 300 deliveries behind.
Same standings?
Tesla also had a comfortable lead when looking at the brand rankings at the end of November, posting a 12% share of the EV market, although this figure dropped slightly compared to October.
A rising BMW moved into second (8.5%) overtaking a stable VW which held an 8.2% share, meaning the top three at the end of the month was in the same position as the end of 2022 podium.
Mercedes-Benz (7.8%) also closed in on VW as well, as they held fourth place. Audi is in the ascendency, having climbed from the end of September to 5.8% in November, keeping Volvo (5.6%) at bay in sixth.
Bringing brands together under their respective parent companies, VW Group continued to increase its lead (21.2%) despite its main brand stalling, thanks to the positive performances from Cupra, Skoda and Audi. Stellantis dropped share in second (13.7%), hindered by a BEV battery-supply shortage.
Tesla had a marginal drop but stayed in third (12%), while BMW Group increased its market share to 10.1% as it sat in fourth. The closest battle in November was at the bottom of the top five, as Hyundai Motor Group held fifth (8.4%) but is faced an improving Mercedes-Benz Group (8.4%).
The fastest-growing brands in the European market during November were MG (up 47% year-on-year), as well as VW Group brands Cupra (up 38%) and Skoda (up 36%).
