The French plug-in electric passenger car market scored 2,833 registrations in April, up 34% year over year (YoY), with plug-in hybrids continuing to grow faster than all-electrics (PHEVs +46%, BEVs +28%). Altogether, that pulled the market up by 20% in 2018, to 13,725 plug-in car registrations in the first trimester of the year.
The 2018 PEV share dropped slightly (-0.2%), to 1.8%, with BEVs alone having 1.2% share.
Looking at April’s best sellers, the Zoe (+2% YoY) collected another win, while the runner-up Nissan LEAF scored 375 deliveries, up 98% compared to the same period last year.
A new face shows up on the monthly top 5, though, with the hot selling Porsche Panamera PHEV collecting its first top 5 presence, thanks to 90 deliveries, a new year best.
| Model | Sales | |
| 1 | Renault Zoe | 961 |
| 2 | Nissan Leaf | 375 |
| 3 | BMW i3 | 200 |
| 4 | Mercedes GLC350e | 122 |
| 5 | Porsche Panamera PHEV | 90 |
In a market known for its stability, the Mercedes GLC350e climbed one position to #4, with the 2018 top 4 now replicating last month’s ranking.
Other models on the rise were the Smart Fortwo ED and VW Passat GTE, both climbing one position to #7 and #8, respectively, while the Porsche Panamera PHEV leaped six positions into #10. With the #8 position not that far away, we could even see Porsche’s sports sedan climb a few more positions in the near future.
The forever-young Peugeot iOn scored 59 registrations last month (+16% YoY), allowing it to climb two positions, to #11, while the BMW X5 PHEV (69 registrations) had its best result in almost two years, allowing it to rise one position, to #18. And the Citroen C-Zero joined the top 20, now putting 10 BEVs into the top 20.
Below the top 20, there is a significant landing this month, with the Jaguar i-PACE registering its first 20 units, which means it beat the Tesla Model X’s score last month (16 deliveries) — a particular race that we will be following closely.
In the brand ranking, Renault (36%, down 1 percentage point) continues in the driver’s seat, as it has for years, followed at a distance by BMW and Nissan (both with 11%). Volvo is in the #4 spot with 6% share (up 1 percentage point), but is still far from the podium positions.
| France | April | YTD | PEV Market Share | |
| 1 | Renault Zoe | 961 | 4,994 | 36% |
| 2 | Nissan Leaf | 375 | 1,448 | 11% |
| 3 | BMW i3 | 200 | 872 | 6% |
| 4 | Mercedes GLC350e | 122 | 465 | 3% |
| 5 | Volvo XC60 PHEV | 56 | 406 | 3% |
| 6 | Kia Soul EV | 70 | 338 | 2% |
| 7 | Smart Fortwo ED | 69 | 316 | 2% |
| 8 | VW Passat GTE | 40 | 283 | 2% |
| 9 | Volvo XC90 PHEV | 40 | 275 | 2% |
| 10 | Porsche Panamera PHEV | 90 | 267 | 2% |
| 11 | Peugeot iOn | 59 | 254 | 2% |
| 12 | Mini Countryman PHEV | 5 | 253 | 2% |
| 13 | Hyundai Ioniq Electric | 53 | 244 | 2% |
| 14 | BMW 225xe Active Tourer | 40 | 242 | 2% |
| 15 | Hyundai Ioniq PHEV | 66 | 235 | 2% |
| 16 | Tesla Model S | 23 | 232 | 2% |
| 17 | Peugeot Partner Tepee EV | 15 | 210 | 2% |
| 18 | BMW X5 xDrive40e | 69 | 196 | 1% |
| 19 | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 46 | 172 | 1% |
| 20 | Citroën C-Zero | 42 | 166 | 1% |
| Others | 392 | 1,857 | 14% | |
| TOTAL | 2,833 | 13,725 | 100% | |
| Source: Avere France | ||||
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