Europe May 2024: Toyota (+8.3%), Skoda (+7.4%) solid, VW T-Roc and Golf in the lead
The VW T-Roc is the best-selling vehicle in Europe in May.
27/06 update: Now with Top 25 brands and models data (Source: JATO Dynamics)
Preliminary data from ACEA shows a European new car market (EU+EFTA+UK) off -2.6% year-on-year to 1,092,901 units. The year-to-date tally remains in positive however at +4.6% to 5,569,024. Among the main 5 markets, Spain (+3.4%) and the UK (+1.7%) gain ground whereas France (-2.9%), Germany (-4.3%) and Italy (-6.6%) skid. The best performing markets are Croatia (+19%), Romania (+14.7%), Poland (+13.2%), Greece (+6.2%), Hungary (+5.7%), Lithuania (+5.5%) and Denmark (+4%). Reversely Cyprus (-24%), Norway (-23.2%), Iceland (-22.1%), Finland (-17.5%) and Estonia (-16.8%) struggle mightily. Year-to-date, all major 5 markets are up, with the UK at +7.1%, Spain at +6.8%, Germany at +5.2%, France at +4.9% and Italy at +3.4%. Bulgaria (+37%), Croatia (+15%), Cyprus (+12.9%), Greece (+12.1%) and Malta (+11%) shine whereas Iceland (-38.2%), Estonia (-15.3%) and Norway (-14.2%) sink.
BEV sales drop significantly faster than the market at -10.8% and 151,968 units for a 13.9% share vs. 15.2% a year ago in May 2023. 29,708 BEVs were registered in Germany (-30.6%) for a 12.6% share, 26,031 in the UK (+6.2%) for a 17.6% share, 23,892 in France (+5.4%) for a 16.9% share, 10,418 in Belgium (+44.8%) for a 26.8% share, 9,681 in the Netherlands (-11.7%) for a 34.1% share and 7,893 in Norway (-26.7%) for a 77% share. Year-to-date, BEVs are up 2.1% to 745,269 and 13.4% share vs. 13.7% over the same period a year ago. The largest markets for BEVs are Germany at 140,13 (-15.9%), the UK at 133,062 (+9.7%), France at 128,565 (+22.9%) and Belgium at 50,690 (+47.1%). For May, PHEV sales are off -9.6% to 73,757 and 6.7% share vs. 7.3% a year ago, HEVs are up 15.4% to 332,772 and 30.4% share vs. 25.7%, petrol sales drop -6.3% to 384,753 and 35.2% share vs. 36.6% and diesel skids -11.4% to 126,445 and 11.6% share vs. 12.7%.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Volkswagen Group (+1.8%) ignores the market slump to rise to 27.1% share vs. 25.5% so far this year. In contrast Stellantis (-8.7%) is hit hard. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (-1.5%) contains its loss while Hyundai-Kia (-4.9%) loses share year-on-year. The Toyota Group (+8.2%) impresses. Brand-wise, Volkswagen (+2.8%) edges up to over 120,000 sales, keeping its YTD tally in positive also (+1.6%). Toyota (+8.3%) manages the largest gain in the Top 13 and consolidates its 2nd place overall with more than 75,000 units sold for the month. YTD Toyota sales are up a splendid 15.1%. BMW (-6.1%) is down on a particularly high year-ago base and cements its third position YTD. Skoda (+7.4%), Hyundai (+2%) and Renault (+0.8%) are also up in the remainder of the Top 10 whereas Peugeot (-13.3%), Kia (-11.1%), Audi (-9.2%) and Mercedes (-6.6%) skid. Further down, Seat (+25.2%), Land Rover (+25.1%) and Volvo (+23.2%).
Over in the models ranking, Volkswagen trusts the two top spots, with the T-Roc (+11.2%) securing its first win since last July and the Golf (+29.7%) hot on its heels. The T-Roc now ranks #5 year-to-date, still below the #3 it held over the Full Year 2023 while the Golf stays at #2 with sales up 48.1% on the first five months of 2023. Still comfortable leader year-to-date, the Dacia Sandero (-11.1%) drops to #3 for the month ahead of three nameplates in positive: the Renault Clio (+4.9%), Skoda Octavia (+6.4%) and Peugeot 2008 (+7.6%), the latter reaching its highest ranking since last October at #6. #3 so far this year, the Peugeot 208 (-14.6%) is down to #7 for the month ile the Opel Corsa (-11.6%) rallies back up 10 spots on April to #8 but falls year-on-year. The Citroen C3 (+68.6%) continues to be rushed by last minute sales.
Previous month: Europe April 2024: Volvo, Toyota, Suzuki shine in market up 12%
One year ago: Europe May 2023: BMW up to #2, Audi and Renault impress in market up 18.2%, Sandero #1
Full May 2024 Top 10 groups, Top 25 brands and Top 25 models below.
Europe May 2024 – groups (Source ACEA):
| Pos | Group | May-24 | /23 | Apr | 2024 | /23 | Pos | FY23 |
| 1 | Volkswagen Group | 296,446 | + 1.8% | 1 | 1,420,858 | + 3.2% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Stellantis | 173,969 | – 8.7% | 2 | 938,744 | + 0.5% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi | 133,042 | – 1.5% | 3 | 706,568 | + 8.2% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Hyundai-Kia | 92,196 | – 4.9% | 4 | 461,758 | – 1.5% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Toyota Group | 81,175 | + 8.2% | 5 | 427,918 | + 16.3% | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | BMW Group | 74,318 | – 12.7% | 6 | 384,202 | + 6.2% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | Mercedes | 55,412 | + 0.2% | 7 | 282,529 | – 0.4% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Ford Motor | 35,272 | – 21.6% | 8 | 188,021 | – 16.4% | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Volvo | 34,101 | + 26.4% | 9 | 160,145 | + 35.5% | 9 | 10 |
| 10 | SAIC Motor | 20,992 | + 5.2% | n/a | 97,251 | + 21.6% | 11 | n/a |
Europe May 2024 – brands (Source JATO Dynamics):
| Pos | Brand | May-24 | /23 | Apr | 2024 | /23 | Pos | FY23 |
| 1 | Volkswagen | 120,742 | + 2.8% | 1 | 564,892 | + 1.6% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota | 73,898 | + 8.3% | 2 | 394,284 | + 15.1% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | BMW | 65,371 | – 6.1% | 3 | 326,943 | + 14.3% | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Renault | 62,415 | + 0.8% | 5 | 280,429 | + 2.6% | 7 | 6 |
| 5 | Skoda | 62,076 | + 7.4% | 4 | 307,227 | + 10.8% | 4 | 7 |
| 6 | Audi | 59,401 | – 9.2% | 7 | 279,905 | – 7.5% | 8 | 3 |
| 7 | Mercedes | 57,163 | – 6.6% | 6 | 292,619 | + 1.2% | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | Peugeot | 53,237 | – 13.3% | 8 | 288,837 | – 1.0% | 6 | 8 |
| 9 | Hyundai | 45,829 | + 2.0% | 10 | 226,302 | + 4.7% | 11 | 12 |
| 10 | Kia | 44,756 | – 11.1% | 11 | 229,217 | – 1.3% | 10 | 9 |
| 11 | Dacia | 43,063 | – 9.3% | 9 | 241,723 | + 2.0% | 9 | 11 |
| 12 | Ford | 38,442 | – 20.2% | 12 | 201,872 | – 15.8% | 12 | 10 |
| 13 | Opel/Vauxhall | 37,361 | – 7.9% | 15 | 189,700 | – 2.1% | 13 | 13 |
| 14 | Volvo | 33,098 | + 23.2% | 13 | 158,982 | + 35.3% | 15 | 18 |
| 15 | Citroën | 32,178 | + 6.4% | 14 | 179,027 | + 11.6% | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | Fiat | 26,876 | – 12.8% | 16 | 153,827 | – 5.3% | 16 | 14 |
| 17 | Seat | 25,728 | + 25.2% | 17 | 121,658 | + 11.7% | 18 | 19 |
| 18 | Nissan | 21,881 | + 7.2% | 18 | 144,993 | + 19.9% | 17 | 17 |
| 19 | MG | 21,075 | + 6.9% | 21 | 96,723 | + 21.9% | 20 | 20 |
| 20 | Tesla | 19,558 | – 33.4% | 22 | 119,057 | – 13.1% | 19 | 16 |
| 21 | Cupra | 19,444 | + 8.1% | 20 | 85,559 | + 17.2% | 22 | 21 |
| 22 | Suzuki | 17,047 | + 5.2% | 19 | 93,860 | + 27.4% | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | Mazda | 15,321 | + 14.7% | 23 | 73,796 | – 2.0% | 23 | 24 |
| 24 | Jeep | 11,649 | + 5.6% | 24 | 58,677 | + 13.4% | 24 | 25 |
| 25 | Land Rover | 9,590 | + 25.1% | 26 | 52,838 | + 15.2% | 26 | 26 |
Europe May 2024 – models:
| Pos | Model | May-24 | /23 | Apr | 2024 | /23 | Pos | FY23 |
| 1 | VW T-Roc | 20,387 | + 11.2% | 4 | 89,272 | – 1.1% | 5 | 3 |
| 2 | VW Golf | 20,000 | + 29.7% | 2 | 106,002 | + 48.1% | 2 | 7 |
| 3 | Dacia Sandero | 19,332 | – 11.1% | 1 | 116,990 | + 16.3% | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Renault Clio | 18,963 | + 4.9% | 3 | 91,199 | + 17.0% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Skoda Octavia | 16,149 | + 6.4% | 7 | 85,694 | + 29.5% | 6 | 11 |
| 6 | Peugeot 2008 | 15,976 | + 7.6% | 13 | 76,555 | + 13.1% | 11 | 13 |
| 7 | Peugeot 208 | 15,497 | – 14.6% | 5 | 91,667 | + 5.9% | 3 | 5 |
| 8 | Opel/Vauxhall Corsa | 15,393 | – 11.6% | 18 | 70,718 | – 19.0% | 15 | 6 |
| 9 | Citroen C3 | 15,291 | + 68.6% | 9 | 84,753 | + 50.8% | 7 | 18 |
| 10 | Toyota Yaris Cross | 14,941 | + 5.7% | 11 | 81,047 | + 0.1% | 8 | 8 |
| 11 | Kia Sportage | 14,822 | + 12.0% | 21 | 71,981 | + 13.8% | 13 | 17 |
| 12 | Toyota Yaris | 14,582 | – 7.4% | 6 | 77,040 | + 13.8% | 10 | 15 |
| 13 | Dacia Duster | 13,810 | + 5.7% | 12 | 69,685 | – 2.5% | 16 | 16 |
| 14 | Ford Puma | 13,084 | – 9.6% | 10 | 72,193 | + 18.7% | 12 | 12 |
| 15 | VW Tiguan | 13,051 | + 3.0% | 8 | 71,796 | – 2.4% | 14 | 9 |
| 16 | Renault Captur | 12,902 | – 6.3% | 17 | 62,719 | + 3.8% | 20 | 19 |
| 17 | Hyundai Tucson | 12,805 | – 6.6% | 14 | 66,587 | – 0.5% | 18 | 14 |
| 18 | Tesla Model Y | 11,662 | – 45.8% | 27 | 79,163 | – 23.7% | 9 | 1 |
| 19 | Audi A3 | 11,062 | – 4.9% | 20 | 58,612 | + 20.7% | 22 | 23 |
| 20 | Fiat Panda | 10,989 | + 21.6% | 15 | 63,342 | + 22.6% | 19 | 25 |
| 21 | Toyota Corolla | 10,608 | – 3.7% | 19 | 59,457 | + 18.6% | 21 | 22 |
| 22 | VW Polo | 10,607 | + 3.3% | 22 | 52,017 | + 3.6% | 23 | 21 |
| 23 | VW T-Cross | 10,541 | + 17.2% | 16 | 49,532 | + 1.8% | 25 | 28 |
| 24 | Nissan Qashqai | 10,069 | – 2.7% | 23 | 69,328 | + 14.9% | 17 | 20 |
| 25 | Toyota C-HR | 9,537 | + 15.2% | 34 | 47,547 | – 5.0% | 26 | 30 |
Source: ACEA
This Post Has 19 Comments
The American Audi A6 is made in Germany.
European car manufacturers invest a lot in interiors to give a perception of superior quality but in reality the actual quality(realibility) is not very good. They know how to sell cars, especially German/French. That’s clear!
I’ve seen so many Honda’s and Subaru’s in the States over the past 3 weeks I’ve been there. Subaru’s especially in the mountain area’s. I’ve come to like them much more. The Honda’s have clean and beautiful designs, from the Civic and Accord to the CR-V and Pilot. I’ve seen so many Crosstreks in bright colors like orange and green, eyecatching and funky. We had a Audi A6 Quattro as a rental. It only had 30.000 miles but the interior had lots rattles and squeaks. I think the European build cars have higher quality interiors. I would have preferred more ground clearance because of the terrain and the bad roads.
Europeans on average drive far fewer kilometers and do not experience as extreme weather conditions as most other countries. That’s why a European doesn’t value reliability very much and European manufacturers are increasingly unreliable compared to Asians or Americans.
I disagree with Bryan that European cars are worse. They are so good, and others have hard time. They know exactly what customers want, wide variety of equipment, engines, significant individualization. It’s difficult to fight against this for those who have to transport cars for 2 months.
I agree Japanese cars are very reliable and quality cars. It does not say anything about the lifetime of certain models and the cost of spare parts.That has to do with it.
Europe looks like a luxury market. Premium brands aren’t sold in such volume anywhere. Well, suddenly Dacia appears, offering Duster Extreme 4×4 10,000 Euros cheaper than Crosstrek. Suzuki Vitara and Scross 4×4 offer a similar price to Duster 4×4 premium version.
Subaru and Honda still lack the concept of how to compete in Europe.
Subaru has it easier in the US. Do the Americans even have Crosstrek competition? Trailblazer? Anything else besides Japanese and Koreans?
The Americans have retreated to the segment of large SUVs and trucks. I think European automakers are everytime one step ahead here.
some statistics on average km driven:
– USA: 22.500km/year
– Germany: 13.500 km/year
– Japan: 9.500 km/year
Looks like the reliability issue is the other way than you present it…
Well, the Japanese are perfectionists, whatever they do is as close to perfection as possible unlike the Europeans/Americans.
They are not worse, they are different. European cars have better performance and image, Asian cars are more reliable and honest, Americans are a mixture of both. What matters is that there are many options of choice.
I also think Japanese love perfection, but so do the German carmakers I think. They are kinda similar there. That’s why VW often doesn‘t make enough profit, because besides the high manufacturing costs they look for perfection (esp. Audi etc). That’s also a reason, why Skoda could never be made into Dacia competition (which was thought about). VW cannot stop at Dacia level, they always try to make the best, hence even Skoda has way too many options etc to stay cheap. – but VW now had to cut costs and so they ended up with cheaper interiors for example.
Subarus are great cars, but it’s just not enough. When I look at PT Mercedes attacks the first place. People will rather take the premium X1 than the Crosstrek. Subaru and Honda prices are too much. They should go under Toyota to play a more dignified role.
Hard to understand the TMY outage. Good car for a good price.
Reliability doesn’t cost a thing, there are cheap and reliable cars. Believe me, Honda just lost their main audience and is too expensive for what it is. I loved Hondas when I was younger, but now there’s only the Type R. Also they play the American market with Americanized models. They don‘t do it here anymore (probably makes no sense for them financially, but that makes the spiral go further).
And there are no totally unreliable cars. I never had problems with any make.
In Europe a great chassis is also more important than in America for example (I don‘t say Honda doesn’t have that), so many typical reliable cars are often bland. A comfortable car works in America on these big, but often boring straight roads, but in much more curvy and narrow streets I want much more than that. It must make fun.
Subarus are also well liked in mountainous regions in Germany and by rangers. They are perfect for that. But otherwise they are probably not the best choice for most carbuyers.
Honda and Subaru look strange to european eyes. And reliability isn’t everything if you’re in the market for the (second) most expensive product decision in your life.
News from Skoda production. The trade unionists report an inspection by Oliver Blume, who has come to lift spirits. Production on the Octavia/Enyaq hybrid line stalls, cancels shifts. The sales results of these models wont be good now. On the contrary, the Fabia/Kamiq/Scala line is running at full capacity, great demand. Probably Greek car rental companies…
A new Passat, company car, appeared in our village. It looks fair, but I get the impression Superb did better. The difference between Passat and Golf Variant isn’t dramatic. It’s no longer the car carved from stone.
Thank you very much for this update Pavel!
Great market, great cars. Highly competitive market.
Excellent cars like Honda and Subaru have a very difficult position.
I am curious to see how Peugeot’s model offensive and Citroen’s profile as a cheap brand play out. Dacia seems to have lost and Citroen has gained.
Honda and Subaru are very reliable but Europeans don’t value reliability.
Honda was very successful in Europe in the 80s and 90s and still in the 2000s. It was an affordable brand, a „poor man’s BMW“. It had a sporty image, the hot great looking Civics, CRXs were everywhere, also the Accord etc. The Civic is too big and way too expensive now. The SUVs have nothing to do with the sporty image they once had. So I would say they have lost contact with their audience in Europe. Has nothing to do with reliability.
Subaru is a niche marque. They are only really big in the USA and maybe Canada and Australia. Even in Japan they are relatively small.
Subaru is also popular is some European countries where people need reliable and good all wheel drive vehicles such some nordic countries. Honda is more expensive than the typical european car brands because it’s much more reliable.
‘… but Europeans don’t value reliability”
I am from Europe.
I value reliability.
This means your statement is bogus, silly, misleading & fake.
For the umpteenth time.
I fear one day you’ll have to face your demons.
Your hatred towards me erases your discernment to understand that groups of people have different tastes and characteristics. This is why certain things are more popular in certain regions than others. Please visit the doctor for treatment of hate.