European electric-vehicle market is experiencing euphoria from the arrival of the Tesla Model 3

29 March 2019

American electric thronging not brethren, hybrids and diesel cars

In February on the European market of passenger PEV (electric vehicles and rechargeable hybrids) according to EV Sales, there were almost 33 thousand cars that on 36% more than in the same period of last year and has become an excellent indicator, given the stagnation of the entire automotive market as a whole (-1%), however, there are more deep changes, because we are witnessing the fall of the prosperous first rechargeable hybrids (PHEV), which have permanent loss of sales since the introduction of the new rules WLTP, so in February their sales declined 3%, while pure electric vehicles (BEV) are thriving and in February jumped by 75 % to more than 21 thousand, and their share in the PEV segment accounted for 65% of sales, while the share of BEV as a whole increased slightly compared to the previous month, to 1.8%, and when added to the counting PHEV, the share of the segment in the General market with conventional vehicles (ICE) rose to 2.8%, which is above the annual result of 2018 with 2.5%.

But, the real bombshell is yet to come, because the novice European market are imported from the U.S. electric car Tesla Model 3, the first full month of sales is coming only in March, so in a few weeks you can expect posts about the new record of the month...

The main news in the February sale, of course, is that Tesla Model 3 directly to the quarry broke into the market and immediately jumped to his leaders. However, in contrast to the situation with this model in the USA called effect of "black holes" due to active displacement from the market of most peers and competitors BEV, in Europe, Tesla Model 3 just doesn't absorb the sales of the other electric cars (well, maybe except acts expensive Model S), but is closely competing models of type PHEV and ICE.

Proof of this is the fact that all subsequent 5 in rating electroassemblers of February showed a growth rate of 20% and above that was great news, as for the market, of course it is better to "tsunami Tesla" threw up all boats, not just their own...

the February ranking of the models:

No. 1 Tesla Model 3 – 3757 units After several years of impatient waiting, fans this Prodigy of electromobile market has finally crossed the Atlantic, a few lucky people from Europe finally got their hands on the coveted "gadget". While the initial 4-digit implementation of this superbestseller still looks too large in a year the volume of its realization in the Old world may exceed tens and even hundreds of thousands. Before looking forward to all the record-breaking March, when the markets of several European countries will fall under the wheel Model 3, in February, mid-size sedan Tesla shipped mainly to Germany (959 units), Norway (791 units), Netherlands (472 units) and France (401 units).

No. 2 Renault Zoe – 3029 units. indicate stable growth of demand for French electro hatchback costs, sales of which grew by 21%, as now there is increased demand for the current generation, which until recently there was no alternative, but this excitement will not last long, because the market will soon have to come out much improved "new" Zoe with such advantages as battery with a capacity of 50-60 kW•h, assistere driving, lower price... Besides, the market is already out of the latest electro hatchback costs the Peugeot 208 EV with a sack full of gadgets, which also soon will begin to push the current generation of Zoe. As for the markets of individual countries, the Zoe continues to be as popular as always, in its home market (1197 units), and also shows quite decent sales in Germany (782 units), Norway (208 units) and Sweden (236 units).

No. 3 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – 2754 units of Japanese hybrid crossover is insensitive to the current failure of the segment of rechargeable hybrids, and is the only among them able to maintain the pace of sales at the level of the bestsellers of the BEV segment, showing in February, an increase of 145%. The crossover is still popular in Scandinavia (496 units in Sweden, 550 units in Norway), and Germany (544 units – a new record of model in this market), the UK and France, and in both countries it was sold more than 200 units of these hybrids. The existence of such atypical models PHEV, prosperous and surrounded by pure electric vehicles, due to its unique combination of practicality, spacious interior, decent enough reserve just for the battery (including due to the presence of fast-charging Chademo type) and democratic prices. Ultimately, the question arises, how long the Outlander PHEV will be able to resist the counterattacks of new models of BEV, though, due to the absence of a direct competitor in the form of compact electrocreaser in the short term, this model of Mitsubishi can still increase sales in the current year without much effort.

No. 4 Nissan LEAF – 2683 unit a Bestseller of the European market in 2018 became 4-m in February, with growth of 67%, which is a pretty decent rate, but the first signs that buyers are already waiting for the version with a battery capacity of 62 kWh, should begin to emerge in March, however, we must remember that the new "long-range" version of the LEAF will be available across the continent only in the early summer. The main markets LEAF was Norway (508 units), France (326 units), Germany (302 units) and the Netherlands (311 units).

No. 5 BMW i3 – 2204 units of the German hatchback Sales in February increased by 36%, and pocket electrorocket BMW benefited from the old formula: "more battery – more sales". If you look at individual countries, Germany (694 units.) left i3 to the main market, and Norway (396 units), Netherlands (180 units) and France (212 units) also helped this BMW to be in the Top 5. As for 2019, it is expected that sales of the i3 will remain relatively stable in coming months as Tesla Model 3 could deprive him of some potential growth, but this will be insufficient to reverse the growth of sales in the negative.

In the ranking for two months of 2019 main news was the fact that the model Tesla Model 3 has popped up literally out of nowhere in 7th place and is now preparing to become a major bestseller Mar with five-digit indicator (in only three countries – Norway, the Netherlands and Germany, future sales will be about 8,000 units).

Much more complex than Model 3, which entered the Top 20 in his debut in February, going from the premium Jaguar electrocreaser i-Pace, finally reached the Top of the bestseller list for 15-th place, making him the eleventh electric car in the Top 20 for the first time in 2015 allowed BEV to most places in the rankings..