Currently reading: European car sales: EVs and hybrids up as diesel hits historic low
Registration figures across Europe in March show electrified cars pass 100k mark, while diesel hits its lowest point since 2000

Europe’s new car market declined by another 3.6% last month - the seventh consecutive monthly fall, with factors such as the diesel city ban, falling consumer confidence and Brexit uncertainty blamed. 

Figures released by analysis firm Jato Dynamics show that 4.13 million new cars were registered across the continent in the first quarter of this year, down 3.2% year-on-year. 19 of the 27 countries listed posted declines, with the UK market dropping by a modest 3.4%. 

Diesel demand is down significantly again, with a 31.2% market share in March. That’s down from the same month last year (36.2%) and much lower than March 2017 (44.8%).

There is good news, however, as last month saw registrations of electrified vehicles (BEVs, PHEV and traditional hybrids) passing the 100,000 mark for the first time, with 125,400 registered. Demand grew by 31%, driven by demand from Holland, Spain, Norway and Germany in particular. 

1 Tesla model 3 2018 review hero front 3

The Tesla Model 3 claimed top spot as the market share winner, with 15,755 registered in March. That’s more than three times as many as the next most popular EV, the Renault Zoe

A surprising trend in last month’s figures was a decline in SUV segment growth. It’s still the most popular market sector, with over 650,000 registered in March, but growth in the compact and small SUV segments was cancelled out by mid-size and large SUVs, which posted declines for the first time in a while.

The Volkswagen Golf remains the most popular new car in Europe, despite an imminent replacement and a volume drop of 14%. The Vauxhall Corsa – a car much older and closer to replacement than even the Golf - also posted strong growth across the UK, France and Germany. 

Read more: 

New car sales continue to decline in March

New car registrations: 2018's best-sellers revealed

Back to top

Join the debate

Comments
16
Add a comment…
Bazzer 29 April 2019

Still too few petrol vans!!! 

Still too few petrol vans!!!  Van manufacturers are still churning out diesel vans that will be worth nothing in just a few years!  There's going to be a LOT of really pissed-off van owners in the future.  Not every van driver opts for a new one every four years, some run them into the ground over a decade or more.  They ain't going to be happy!

Dilly 29 April 2019

Try getting a premium SUV

The waiting times are up to 26 weeks on most VW SUV models. Doesnt sound like a slow down in demand but it is a slow down in registered cars due to WLTP and stockpiling due to brexit fears.

scotty5 29 April 2019

Stockpile due to Brexit - eh?

Dilly wrote:

Doesnt sound like a slow down in demand but it is a slow down in registered cars due to WLTP and stockpiling due to brexit fears.

Stockpiling due to Brexit fears! Thought I'd heard it all but nope, the mystery continues.

What's the reason for stockpiling due to Brexit?

The Apprentice 29 April 2019

scotty5 wrote:

scotty5 wrote:

Dilly wrote:

Doesnt sound like a slow down in demand but it is a slow down in registered cars due to WLTP and stockpiling due to brexit fears.

Stockpiling due to Brexit fears! Thought I'd heard it all but nope, the mystery continues.

What's the reason for stockpiling due to Brexit?

Have you ever tried selling a car splattered in molten meteorite dusts and 2 inches of dead locusts? 

sbagnall 29 April 2019

Dilly wrote:

Dilly wrote:

The waiting times are up to 26 weeks on most VW SUV models. Doesnt sound like a slow down in demand but it is a slow down in registered cars due to WLTP and stockpiling due to brexit fears.

I hear JLR have one or two cars lying around for immediate delivery.

Boris9119 29 April 2019

Diesel Continues its Death Spiral

Porsche's decision to get in front of the curve and ignore diesel is not looking so shabby now is it?

Vertigo 29 April 2019

Boris9119 wrote:

Boris9119 wrote:

Porsche's decision to get in front of the curve and ignore diesel is not looking so shabby now is it?

Toyota/Lexus were ahead of the curve, they chose hybrids over diesel years ago. Porsche is more... on the curve, I guess?

Boris9119 29 April 2019

At a Cost

That's very true, in the USA it cost Toyota/Lexus nothing in missed market share, but they paid a heavy price in Europe.

Ski Kid 29 April 2019

it is in the Uk ther emarket share has halved

yes looks mighty decimated to me over lasgt few months for Porche,without diesel they will suffer very badly.

Boris9119 30 April 2019

UK Market Irrelevant

You might be right about the UK sales, but remember the UK market is a small part of Porsche's overall sales. Porsche will not suffer, their biggest problem is meeting product demand worldwide; GT3/GT4/GT2 all sold out, Taycan 2yr pre orders in USA alone, 8 months wait on new Cayenne in USA, long lead times in China and Middle East for Cayenne, walk into a Florida Porsche dealer today to order a new Macan and the build slots are for Feb 2020!