Sales of new cars in the European Union continued to pick up in February, again thanks to sales by the Volkswagen group and Dacia, according to data published on Tuesday March 21 by the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association).
Favorable basis of comparison
Sales reached 802,763 units in February, a year-on-year increase of 11.5%. However, the base of comparison is very low: February 2022 was affected by a shortage of electronic components.
Among the major markets, Italy, Spain and France in particular posted strong rallies.
Sales of electric vehicles have recovered after the fall in January, in particular linked to the reduction of purchase subsidies in Germany, the largest market on the continent. Electric now represent 12.1% of the market and hybrid 25.5%.
By contrast, plug-in hybrid vehicles have seen their sales decline, again due to changes in subsidy rules in Germany, according to ACEA. They represent 7.2% of the market share.
It is mainly diesel engines that are falling with a market share of 15% (-8.4%). Petrol cars continue to dominate Europe with a market share of 36.9%, stable for one year.
Volkswagen ahead of Stellantis and Renault
The growth of the new car market in February is especially linked to the strong recovery of the European leader, the Volkswagen group (+18.2%), which with 208,503 units reaches a 26% market share. The entire Volkswagen group recorded an increase in sales in February: +19% for Audi, +18.4% for Skoda or even +38.8% for Porsche. Seat’s sports brand, Cupra, saw its sales increase by almost 56%, in full expansion.
The other winner this February is the Renault group, and especially its low cost brand Dacia. Its registrations increased by 49.2% in February. As a whole, the Renault group is growing strongly (+26.3%), with 86,779 registered units and a market share of 10.8%.
The Toyota group also withdrew from the game last month. The Japanese manufacturer is also advancing (+14.6%), with a 7.3% market share, while Hyundai-Kia is slipping after strong growth in 2022 (+1.4%, 8.4% market share). market).
The number 2 manufacturer in Europe, Stellantis remains at a low level with 153,684 units and a market share of 19.1% (+1.6%), with poor results at Citroën.
As for the premium brands, Mercedes rose 8.5% while the BMW group fell 2.2%, held back by Mini. Tesla continues to command market share, with 2.4% for nearly 20,000 cars sold.
Source: BFM TV
