New car registrations increased by 20% year on year in August, with demand led by a growing appetite for electric vehicles, according to industry analyst Jato Dynamics.
Some 900,000 cars were sold across 28 European markets, with 22% of that total – some 196,000 – being battery-powered. In total, EV registrations increased by 102%.
Petrol-powered cars are still Europe’s most sought-after, though, representing 53% of registrations.
Registrations for EVs increased dramatically in Belgium (+224%), Greece (+183%) and Luxembourg (+164%). Demand in Germany alone, which increased 171%, accounted for 44% of Europe’s total EV registrations in August.
“Although the current industry debates often point towards a slowdown in growth for EVs, our data shows that growth in demand remains strong, due to their increasingly competitive pricing and continuous support from governments across Europe,” said Felipe Munoz, Jato’s global analyst.
For the month of August, Tesla secured both the top spot for registrations. The Tesla Model Y sold 21,549 units for a year-on-year increase of 208%. The Model Y is also the continent’s highest-selling car of the year so far, with 169,420 sold.
“It’s likely that the Model Y will become Europe’s most popular new passenger car by the end of the year. As a non-European model leading in Europe, it will be a remarkable and historic moment,” said Munoz.
The related Tesla Model 3, meanwhile, sold 11,943 times, increasing by 307% year on year.
Tesla’s surging sales come after the US firm slashed prices for the Model Y and Model 3. In the UK, Tesla cut prices of the SUV by £8000 in January this year, while the saloon's price was reduced by as much as £6500.
The discounts were introduced to stimulate sales after the firm’s supply dramatically outstripped demand by 34,000 units in the final quarter of 2022.
The top five for August was rounded out by the Pegueot 208 (21,549), Volkswagen T-Roc (15,198), Fiat 500 (14,469) and Dacia Sandero (14,428).
Read below for Europe’s top 10 best-sellers so far in 2023.
The top 10 best-selling cars in Europe
1. Tesla Model Y, 169,420 sales so far, +216% year on year
Tesla’s stranglehold on the global EV market continues, with the Model Y appearing to be a shoo-in for a podium finish in this year’s European sales charts. It ended the first six months as the year’s best-selling car. Can it hold its place until the end of 2023?
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Confusing headline gives the impression these are year to date figures. Yet the quoted figures are I believe for the month of August. Even so, it's hard to comprehend that Europe's top seller is a Chinese built model and not a single Ford appears in the top 10. So it seems that the Tesla Model Y is in fact the new Fiesta. Or was this August just a blip?
There's something really weird about this.
Historically the best selling cars in the EU have alsways been the smaller cheaper cars built by European manufacturers. And if you break those cars down, unlike the UK, it's often the more basic versions of those cars. Unlike the UK, mainland Europe don't place as much emphasis on badge snobbery.
I say weird because when the Dacia Sandero was the previous chart topper, that's totally believable. But we've gone from one of the cheapest cars on the market to a Tesla Model Y?
Oh come on. I can understand stats being a tad unrealistic given the production shut downs around Covid, how is it possible for a car that expensive to be the best seller?
I don't believe it, there has to be more to this story.
You can also see why the EU lawmakers are panicing. That Tesla Y is built in China, the prices of which the EU commissioner has asked to investigate. No wonder they want to slap an extra 10% import duty. EU top sellers have been dominated by cars build in the EU. Up until now, I can't think of any that haven't.
So you don't believe the stats yet PSA, VW, BMW etc don't pipe up. The Model Y is taking big chunks from BMW, Audi, Mercedes and when you combine them you get a big Number 1 seller.
Unless you've some actually evidence you'll begin to sound like one of those conspiracist types.
If you read the article, it states the best sellers in 28 european markets. The EU has 27 countries, so that means the 28th market is the UK. I would imagine a lot of those Teslas making up number one were sold in the UK, & therefore perhaps the Dacia was in fact in number one slot in the EU.
I don't understand why people would buy it instead of a VW Golf. Which is nicer and runs on petrol instead of electricity.