Tesla Model 3 Is 2019’s Best Selling Vehicle In Dutch Lands
Credit to Author: Jose Pontes| Date: Wed, 09 Oct 2019 05:08:18 +0000
Published on October 9th, 2019 | by Jose Pontes
October 9th, 2019 by Jose Pontes
We start this month’s EV sales reports in the Netherlands. (Well, we already started there with another article, but here’s a second.) The Dutch plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market grew a whopping 281% in September compared to the same month in 2018 (year over year, or YoY). The nation had 8,067 PEV registrations, the best month ever for plug-ins aside from previous fiscal-derived peaks in December 2013 (9,304 units), December 2015 (15,908), and December 2016 (11,132). So, all points to a record performance this coming December. How much, would you say? 16,000? 20,000? More?
This memorable performance last month translated in a fully electric vehicle (BEV) share of 20% in September, placing the 2019 BEV share at a record 9.6%.
The good news is that not only were BEVs red hot (+291%), but plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales also jumped (+173% YoY). Although, their growth paled compared to BEVs, so last month they represented just 5% of all plug-in registrations. Adding plug-in hybrid registrations to BEVs, the plug-in vehicle share climbed 1% in September, to 21%, and 0.6% in 2019, to 10.2%.
So, it is official: We have yet another market north of the famous 10% mark — after Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, we now have the Netherlands. It is also the biggest of these auto markets.
In September, the leading Tesla Model 3 had its best performance outside the US, with an amazing 5,768 units delivered, becoming not only the best selling vehicle in this market, all fuels counted, but also smashing the almost 6 year old monthly plug-in record, which dated back to December 2013 (Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV — 4,957 units).
Looking at the remaining players, the #2 Hyundai Kona EV was also shining brightly, with 510 registrations, its best result since January, while its Kia Niro EV cousin reached the podium, with 300 deliveries.
A good result for Kia Netherlands, but not so good for the remaining European Kia importers, which are watching several units of the highly desired EV crossover being diverted to Dutch roads. … Well, for them, I have a message: Knock on the Kia Mothership’s gates and demand more units! Many more…
Looking at the 2019 ranking, a special mention is owed to the fact that the stellar performance of the Tesla Model 3 in September allowed it to become the best selling model, all models counted, and now has a 4,000 unit advantage over the #2 Volkswagen Polo.
So, together with their Norwegian colleagues, Tesla’s Dutch representatives can start to prepare their own 2019 Best Selling Model party.
Source: RAI Vereniging and EV Volumes
In the PEV top 10, everything looks stable, with only the #10 Audi e-tron, #6 in September, having a chance to stir things up, having cut the distance between it and the #9 Hyundai Ioniq Electric by 76 units, to just 109 units.
The second half of the ranking is definitely more interesting, with the Volvo XC90 PHEV climbing to #14, thanks to 40 registrations, its best result since January, and the Smart Forfour EV (43 units, a personal best) was also up one position, to #16.
The Tesla Model S was up two positions, to #17, thanks to 66 deliveries, its best result in 2019, while the Model X is only 5 units behind the #19 Jaguar I-PACE, thanks to a year best performance in September, with 56 units. Overall, it was a great month for the whole Tesla lineup.
In the manufacturer ranking, Tesla (42%, up 9 percentage points!) extended its lead, followed by Hyundai (13%, down 2 percentage points), while the other Korean, Kia (8%, down percentage points), is in the last place of the podium, ahead of Volkswagen (7%), BMW, and Nissan (both with 6%).
You might have read plenty of articles about how the Tesla Model 3 is kicking ass butts in the Netherlands, but you probably haven’t read yet the underlying story behind it — that is, the quick electrification of the most expensive segments of the Dutch market. So … here it is:
While the Tesla Model 3 is the undisputed leader in the midsize car segment, the corresponding SUV category is also being electrified swiftly, with the electrified Volvo XC60 (39% of sales belonged to the PHEV version) leading, with 155 units, while the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was the runner-up in September, with 132 units (97% of all Outlander registrations).
To highlight the current electrification of this segment, the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE was #5, just 3 units behind the #4 Mercedes GLC. Not bad, eh?
If the midsize SUV is getting electrified fast, even without the Tesla Model Y and VW ID.4X, in the full size car category, things are less advanced, with only the Tesla Model S disrupting the status quo — the other two electrified models, the BMW 5 Series (6% of registrations belong to the PHEV version) and the Volvo S/V90 twins (9%) have a low share of plug-ins.
The Porsche Taycan will be a welcome addition to this category.
The full size SUV category seems to be the most advanced segment when it comes to electrification. Not only do we have 2 BEV nameplates in the top 5, but the other electrified model, the Volvo XC90, has 68% of its registrations coming from its PHEV version.
Add this to the fact that the #2 BMW X5 is going to receive an interesting PHEV version in a few weeks and Porsche is said to be re-launching the PHEV Cayenne soon, and we could have a completely electrified top 5 in a few months!
And don’t forget the incoming Mercedes GLE PHEV, with 100 km of electric range and fast charging, is also coming soon.
There is surely welcome news in one of the most polluting vehicle segments.
Jose Pontes Always interested in the auto industry, particularly in electric cars, Jose has been overviewing the sales evolution of plug-ins through the EV Sales blog since 2012, allowing him to gain an expert view on where EVs are right now and where they are headed in the future. The EV Sales blog has become a go-to source for people interested in electric car sales around the world. Extending that work and expertise, Jose is now a partner in EV-Volumes and works with the European Alternative Fuels Observatory on EV sales matters.