Europe April 2023: Dacia (+44.2%), Skoda (+41.4%), Renault (+36.8%) highlight market up 16.1%, Sandero #1

Dacia sales are up 44.6% year-on-year in April.

31/05 update: Now with Top 80 All brands and Top 440 All models.

26/05 update: Now with Top 25 brands and Top 50 models.

According to preliminary data by ACEA, April new car sales in Europe (EU+EFTA+UK) gain 16.1% year-on-year to 964,932 and are up 17.2% or over 615,000 units year-to-date to 4,201,918. BEV sales soar 49.2% YoY in April to 126,404 and 13.1% share vs. 10.2% a year ago. YTD BEV registrations are up 36.5% to 559.733 and 13.3% share vs. 11.4% over the first 4 months of 2022. For the month, PHEV are down -2.4% to 70,644, HEV are up 19.5% to 246,483, petrol sales are up 14.8% to 370,604 and diesel edges down -0.8% to 126,039. Among the Top 5 markets, Italy fares best at +29.2% followed by France at +21.9%, Germany (+12.6%), the UK (+11.6%) and Spain (+8.2%). Other great performers include Croatia (+44%), Belgium (+40.4%), the Netherlands (+35.2%) and Portugal (+29.2%). Reversely Malta (-14%), Norway (-7.7%), Sweden (-6.2%) and Hungary (-6%) suffer.

In the groups ranking, the VW Group (+31.6%) almost doubles the market growth rate to easily dominate. In fact the Top 8 groups and unchanged on March. Stellantis (+8.6%) is rather weak unlike the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance (+25.4%). All remaining Top 9 groups trail the market but manage a positive result. Geely Group (+10.3%) fares best ahead of BMW Group (+4.4%) and Mercedes (+2.4%). Looking at the brands charts, Volkswagen (+31.4%) leads the way above Audi (+26.3%) and a struggling Toyota (-1.9%) which loses the 2nd spot for the first time since December 2021. Renault (+35.9%) is up to #4 vs. #8 so far this year, Skoda (+41.4%) advances to #6 and Dacia (+44.2%) gains two spots to #11, just as Peugeot (+14%) just trails the market and drops to #8. Below, Tesla (+877.8%), Alfa Romeo (+120.2%) and MG (+103.7%) stand out.

Model-wise, the Dacia Sandero (+44.5%) scores its 2nd win of the year after January and solidifies its #2 spot year-to-date. The VW T-Roc (+19.6%) climbs four spots on March to #2, unsettling the Opel Corsa (+40.1%) down one to #3. The Renault Clio (+119.3%) is up 8 ranks to #4, ending the month just above its archenemy the Peugeot 208 (-3.8%). The Toyota Yaris Cross (+42.5%), VW Tiguan (+117.1%) and VW Golf (+31.4%) also beat the market below, as does the Dacia Duster (+38.6%) at #10. The Skoda Octavia (+232.5%) rallies back up to #11 while the Tesla Model Y (+1353.6%) falls from #1 in March to #17 but surges ahead year-on-year, holding onto its YTD leadership.

Previous month: Europe March 2023: Tesla Model Y #1 over Q1

One year ago: Europe April 2022: Market down -20.2%, Peugeot 208 #1, VW T-Roc, Ford Puma, Kia Sportage break ranking records

Full April 2023 Top 10 groups, Top 80 All brands and Top 440 All models below.