Europe January 2024: BMW (+33.8%), Peugeot (+23.1%) shine in market up 11.5%

BMW is the best performing brand in the Top 10 in January.

7/03 update: Now with Top 91 All brands and Top 475 All models.

According to preliminary data from ACEA, the European new car market (EU+EFTA+UK) is up 11.5% year-on-year in January to 1,015,381 sales vs. 911,036 a year ago. Among the 5 biggest markets, Germany (+19.1%) fares best on low year-ago volumes, followed by Italy at +10.6%, France at +9.2%, the UK at +8.2% and Spain at +7.3%. As for the other markets, Norway (+175.5%) is the most dynamic on dismal year-ago results, with Croatia (+30.7%), Bulgaria (+24.4%), Poland (+22.1%), Greece (+21.1%) and Cyprus (+19.8%) also shining.  

BEVs are up 29.3% year-on-year to 120,926 and 11.9% share vs. 10.3% a year ago, Norway (+281.3%), Estonia (+134.5%), Slovakia (+106.7%), Belgium (+75.5%), the Netherlands (+72.2%), Greece (+64.8%) registering the biggest surges. France is at 16.4% BEV share, the UK at 14.7%, Germany at 10.5%, Spain at 4.9% and Italy at a meagre 2.1%. PHEV sales are up 24.4% to 80,370 and 7.9% share vs. 7.1% in January, HEVs are up 21.4% to 297,359 and 29.3% share vs. 26.9% last year, petrol is up 2.8% to 363,201 and diesel off -5.4% to 120,625.

In the groups ranking, the Volkswagen Group (+8.1%) trails the market slightly while Stellantis (+16.9%) is in great shape and reclaims the 2nd spot Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi (+6.7%) held in December. Hyundai-Kia (+1.2%) is wobbly, as the Toyota Group (+9.2%) is relatively flat compared to the market. The BMW Group (+29.7%) delivers a stunning result unlike Mercedes (-10.6%) and Ford (-6.1%).

Brand-wise, Volkswagen (-3.6%) struggles on top, enduring one of only two losses in the Top 8. Toyota (+8.4%) is back up three spots on December to #2 ahead of BMW (+33.8%), Skoda (+18.5%) hitting its highest ranking since April 2023 at #4, and Peugeot (+23.1%) all beating the market. Audi (+10.5%) stays at #6 vs. #3 over the Full Year 2023. At #7, Dacia (+8.1%) outsells sister brand Renault (-11.8%) at #11 for only the 2nd time in European history after January 2023. Hyundai (+6.1%) and Kia (+9%) underperform in the remainder of the Top 10. Below, notice Mitsubishi (+132.9%), Tesla (+94.2%), Cupra (+46.1%), Nissan (+38.6%) and Opel/Vauxhall (+35.7%).

The Dacia Sandero (+20.2%) is the overall best-seller in Europe this month, marking a 4th win in the past 12 months. The VW Golf (+61.9%) follows and confirms its recovery at #2, its best ranking since October 2022 when it was #2 also. The Toyota Yaris Cross (+61.9%) jumps up seven spots on December to land on the third step, its 2nd podium finish in the past four months. The Skoda Octavia (+74.3%) soars 12 ranks on last month to #4, distancing the Peugeot 208 (+24.2%) rallying back up 21 spots to #4 and the Citroen C3 (+54.3%) up 19 to #6. The Peugeot 2008 (+29%) and Kia Sportage (+40.7%) also excel in the remainder of the Top 10.

Previous post: Europe Full Year 2023: Tesla Model Y spectacularly takes the lead

One year ago: Europe January 2023: Market up 10.7%, Dacia outsells Renault for the first time, places Sandero at #1

Full January 2024 Top 10 groups, Top 91 All brands and Top 475 All models below.