Europe March 2023: Tesla Model Y #1 over Q1

The Tesla Model Y has sold almost 72,000 units in three months in Europe.

27/04 update: Now with Top 420 All models

24/04 update: Now with Top 75 All brands

According to data by ACEA, the European new car market (EU+EFTA+UK) is up by a fantastic 26.1% in March to 1,422,147 units, bringing the Q1 2023 tally up 17.5% to 3,235,951. This the 8th consecutive month of growth and the highest Q1 volume since pre-pandemic 2019. We are however dealing with particularly weak year-ago volumes as March 2022 was off -18.8% on the year prior and Q1 2022 off -10.6% on 2021. ACEA data shows that among the Big Five markets, Spain (+66.1%) fares best above Italy (+40.7%) while France (+24.2%), the UK (+18.2%) and Germany (+16.6%) are below the average growth. Outside the Big Five, the best performing markets are Cyprus (+108.8%), Croatia (+61.5%), Portugal (+60.1%), Greece (+58%) and the Netherlands (+51.1%). Year-to-date, Greece (+50.6%) leads the way above Portugal (+49.6%) and Spain (+44.5%).

In the brands ranking over Q1, Volkswagen (+25.3%) retains the lead above Toyota (+21.6%), both manufacturers outpacing the market. Peugeot (+9.6%) follows in third place vs. #5 over the Full Year 2022, with Audi (+19.8%) breathing down its neck at #4 just 341 units below. Mercedes (+17.8%) matches the market but falls to #5 vs. #3 in FY2022, while Dacia (+41.9%) and Skoda (+30.3%) deliver the largest year-on-year gains in the Top 10. Renault (+15.6%), BMW (+5.4%) and Ford (+5.2%) underperform yet manage a positive evolution. Below, MG (+112.2%), Tesla (+59.6%) and Nissan (+45.2%) stand out. 

Model-wise in March, the Tesla Model Y (+142.8%) posts by far its highest ever European monthly volume at over 46,000 sales, the highest monthly volume for any nameplate since March 2019 (VW Golf). This month, the Model Y is #1 in at least 10 markets: Austria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK! This amazing performance is more than enough to lift the Model Y to #1 over Q1 2023, the first time a Tesla ranks #1 in a European year-to-date ranking. The Opel Corsa (+59.2%) lifts three spots on February to #2 ahead of the Peugeot 208 (+13.6%). In just over a year, the Toyota Yaris Cross (+98.8%) has established itself as the Japanese brand’s best seller across Europe, it equals its ranking record at #4, also hit last January. The Nissan Qashqai (+66%) races up 18 ranks on last months to #5 thanks to its UK performance, distancing the VW T-Roc (+60.3%) and Dacia Sandero (+24.8%). The Peugeot 2008 (+48.9%) also shines at #9, signing its first Top 10 finish since last October.

Previous month: Europe February 2023: Dacia (+55%), Alfa Romeo (+132.6%) impress in 7th lift in a row (+12.2%)

One year ago: Europe March 2022: Tesla (+76.4%), Kia (+23%), Dacia (+18.3%) impress, two Teslas on podium, market falling -18.8%

Full March 2023 Top 75 All brands and Top 420 All models, Q1 2023 Top 25 brands below.