Europe May 2023: BMW up to #2, Audi and Renault impress in market up 18.2%, Sandero #1

BMW is up to a record 2nd place in Europe in May.

10/07 update: Now with Top 80 All brands and Top 450 All models.

29/06 update: Now with Top 50 models.

According to preliminary data by ACEA, new car sales in Europe (EU+EFTA+UK) improve 18.2% year-on-year in May to 1,121,644 which leads to a year-to-date tally up 17.4% or almost 800,000 units to 5,323,630. BEV sales are up a whopping 65.6% year-on-year for the month to 170,389 units, while PHEVs only edge up 0.8% to 81,391. HEV registrations gain 26.9% to 288,112, petrol is up 11.3% to 410,665 and diesel down -4.3% to 142,407. Note YTD BEV sales are up 42.3% to 730,137 and HEV up 26.3% to 1,378,535. Among the Big Five countries, Italy is up 23.1%, Germany up 19.2%, the UK up 16.7%, France up 14.8% and Spain up 8.3%. Best performing markets include Croatia (+74.5%), Portugal (+54.6%), Belgium (+42.5%), Ireland (+42.2%) and the Netherlands (+41.6%).

In the groups ranking, the VW Group (+20.2%) outpaces the market to comfortably retain the lead whereas Stellantis (-0.5%) has an off month, enduring the only year-on-year decline in the Top 7. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi for its part surges 27.4% as the BMW Group is up 24.8%. Hyundai-Kia (+0.1%) is stable and disappoints, as do Toyota Group (+8.4%) and Ford Motor (-2.8%). Brand-wise, Volkswagen (+16.3%) trails the market slightly unlike BMW (+30.6%) climbing up three spots on April to #2, its highest ever ranking in Europe and first time since April 2020. Toyota (+7.5%) stays in third position while Audi (+30.3%) and Renault (+30.3%) impress in the remainder of the Top 5. Further down, Skoda (+40.2%), Dacia (+45.8%), Tesla (+1936.2%!), Volvo (+45.5%) and MG (+186.7%) make themselves noticed.

It’s yet another month as Europe’s #1 for the Dacia Sandero.

Over in the models ranking, the Dacia Sandero (+79.9%) repeats at #1 only 215 sales above the Tesla Model Y (+1862.6%), with the latter holding onto the YTD top spot. The VW T-Roc (+8%) is down one spot on April to #3, a ranking it also holds year-to-date. The Peugeot 208 (-0.5%) and Renault Clio (+87.3%) exchange spots compared to last month to round out the Top 5. The Opel Corsa (-4.2%) is down three ranks to #6 ahead of the Toyota Yaris (+25.8%) and VW Golf (+3.3%). The Golf reappears inside the YTD Top 10 at #9, nevertheless the lowest the nameplate has ever ranked in Europe. The Skoda Octavia (+193.6%) and VW Tiguan (+84%) close the Top 10 in spectacular fashion with the Peugeot 2008 (+26.5%) just outside.

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

One year ago: Europe May 2022: Toyota (+3.6%), Hyundai (+9.9%), Kia (+9.8%) defy bettering market (-12.5%), Peugeot 208 #1

Full May 2023 Top 10 groups, Top 80 brands and Top 450 All models below.