Europe August 2024: Skoda (#3), Volvo (+33.3%) shine, sales off -16.5%
Skoda is up to a record third place in Europe in August.
It’s a weak month of sales all around in Europe in August, with the five major markets in decline: Germany (-27.8%) is the hardest hit, with France (-24.3%) and Italy (-13.4%) also struggling while Spain (-6.5%) and the UK (-1.3%) limit their fall. The European market as a whole (EU+EFTA+UK) is off -16.5% to 755,717 units according to ACEA data. So far in 2024, sales are up just 1.7% to 8,661,401 units. Among the five major markets, the UK (+5.1%), Spain (+4.5%) and Italy (+3.8%) show sizeable gains while Germany (-0.5%) and France (-0.3%) are stable. The big story on other automotive outlets this month is the crashing of BEV sales at -36% to 125,833 units and 16.7% share vs. a record 21.7% a year ago. However this is in large part due to the German market where they are off -68.8% to 27,024 vs. 86,649 in August 2023. Indeed a year ago the end of EV subsidies on September 1 triggered lots of forwarded purchases and led to record BEV shares in August. Without Germany, BEV sales are down just -10.2% year-on-year and actually improve share at 17.7% vs. 17.4% a year ago.
Volkswagen (-17.3%) roughly matches the market decline and easily stays in the brands top spot. Toyota (-6.1%) resists better and follows at #2. Skoda (-1.1%) is almost stable and climbs to the third spot as a result, a European ranking record for the Czech brand also hit in April 2020 and January 2023. BMW (-9.5%) and Mercedes (-5.2%) also contain their loss to single-digits to round out the Top 5. Audi (-17.5%), Peugeot (-14%) and Renault (-13.2%) are in tow ahead of Kia (-16.8%) and Dacia (-11%) back inside the Top 10 at #10. Volvo (+33.3%) is the only gainer in the Top 25 at #14. Fiat (-48.2%), Tesla (-43.5%), Citroen (-41.4%), Mini (-37.6%) all see devastated sales.
Model-wise, the Dacia Sandero (+8.5%) defies the diving market to consolidate its pole position. #1 a year ago, the Tesla Model Y (-37.8%) falls to 2nd place but still ranks at a low #7 year-to-date. The Toyota Yaris Cross (+24.7%) continues to impress at #3 and ascends to #5 year-to-date, dislodging the Peugeot 208 (-32%). The VW T-Roc (-15.5%) is down two spots on July to #4 and stays #3 so far this year. The Renault Clio (-5.3%) rounds out the Top 5 ahead of the Dacia Duster (+9.7%) at #6 vs. #12 year-to-date. The VW Polo (+25.9%) has a sensational month, inside the Top 10 for the first time in 2024 at #9. Still up to #2 year-to-date vs. #7 over the Full Year 2023, the VW Golf (-30.1%) craters to #13. The BMW X1 (+11.3%) breaks into the European Top 20 for the first time at #20 and the Volvo EX30 is inside the Top 25 for the first time at #24.
Previous month: Europe July 2024: Volvo up 38.8%, Kia Sportage slides into Top 5
One year ago: Europe August 2023: Sales up 20.7%, BEVs at record 21.7% share, Model Y #1
Full August 2024 Top 92 All brands and Top 506 All models below.
