Europe September 2024: Market off -4.2%, BEVs up 13.9%

The VW Tiguan hits a best ever 2nd place thanks to the new generation.

25/10 update: Now with Top 92 All brands and Top 500 All models rankings.

Initial data by ACEA has the European new car market (EU+EFTA+UK) down -4.2% year-on-year in September to 1,118,083 units. The year-to-date result remains in positive for now at +1% to 9,779,605. We remain -19% below the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. Among the Top 5 markets, Spain (+6.3%) and the UK (+1%) are in positive but Germany (-7%), Italy (-10.7%) and France (-11.1%) struggle. Great performers in September include Malta (+55.3%), Norway (+25.4%), Estonia (+22.6%), Lithuania (+14.5%), Croatia (+12.4%) and Slovenia (+10.1%) while at the other end of the ladder Iceland (-50.6%), Finland (-38.5%), Belgium (-18.6%) and Greece (-15.3%) sink.

Ending fears of a slowdown, BEVs rally back up 13.9% year-on-year to 213,443 and 19.1% share vs. 16% a year ago in September 2023. Year-to-date BEV sales are off -2.6% to 1,433,225 and 14.7% share vs. 15.2% over the same period in 2023. PHEV sales recede -11.7% to 81,321 for the month, HEVs are up 12.3% to 377,168, petrol falls -18.8% to 329,207 and diesel implodes -23.8% to 93,304. Looking at BEV sales by country, the UK (+24.4% to 56,387) is the biggest market, followed by Germany (+8.7% to 34,479), France (-6.3% to 28,266), Norway (+38.8% to 12,495), the Netherlands (+20.6% to 12,461), Belgium (+32.8% to 12,142) and Sweden (-7.7% to 11,535).

Based on ACEA data, the Volkswagen Group manages a +1% uptick to 25.8% share vs. 24.5% a year ago, but the event of the month is Stellantis freefalling -26% to just 13.3% share vs. 17.2% in September 2023 and 15.9% year-to-date. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi edges down -4.6% and Hyundai-Kia is down a similar -4.9%. The Toyota Group (+3.6%) and BMW Group (+5.1%) defy the negative market with solid lifts. JATO Dynamics has Volkswagen stable over the month (+0.3%), distancing Toyota (+3%) and a surging Skoda (+20.4%) which repeats at a record-breaking third place. BMW advances 5.5% to stay at #4 above Mercedes (-4.9%) and Renault (+2.5%). Hyundai (+3.6%) is back inside the Top 10 at #10, with Tesla (+30.9%), Volvo (+23.9%) and Land Rover (+14.3%) standing out in the remainder of the Top 25.

Model-wise, the Tesla Model Y (-1.5%) limits its fall to snap its second monthly win of the year after last March, with an almost 8,000 sale-margin over the #2. Leader over the Full Year 2023, the Model Y is climbing up the 2024 YTD charts, up two spots to #5 after 9 months. The VW Tiguan (+28.6%) celebrates its first German pole position with a 2nd spot in the European charts vs. #8 so far this year. It’s the fourth time the Tiguan reaches a best ever #2 and first time in almost 5 years after July, October and November 2019. The Renault Clio (+3.1%) is up two spots on last month to #3, a ranking it now also holds year-to-date, having passed the VW T-Roc (-24.5%). The Dacia Sandero (-1.6%) falls to 4th place but remains the overall best-seller so far in 2024. The Kia Sportage (+14.3%) is back up 6 ranks on last month to a record #5, also hit last July. The Toyota Yaris Cross (+15.8%) and VW Polo (+12%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10. Just outside, the Tesla Model 3 soars 314% year-on-year to #11.

Previous month: Europe August 2024: Skoda (#3), Volvo (+33.3%) shine, sales off -16.5%

One year ago: Europe September 2023: MG (+90.7%), Jeep (+127.1%) euphoric in market up 11.1%

Full September 2024 Top 10 groups, Top 92 All brands and Top 500 All models below.