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.

05/07 update: Now with Top 93 All brands and Top 501 All models (Source: JATO Dynamics)

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 four nameplates in positive: the Renault Clio (+4.9%), Skoda Octavia (+6.4%), Peugeot 2008 (+7.6%) – reaching its highest ranking since last October at #6 – and the VW Tiguan (+3%). #3 so far this year, the Peugeot 208 (-14.6%) is down to #8 for the month while the Opel Corsa (-11.6%) rallies back up 11 spots on April to #9 but falls year-on-year. The Citroen C3 (+68.6%) continues to see its outgoing generation rushed by last minute sales ahead of new safety legislations.

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 93 All brands and Top 501 All models below.