Nissan LEAF, VW e-Golf, & Tesla Model S Shine In Fast-Growing Dutch EV Market — Netherlands EV Sales July 2018

The Netherlands had 1,362 plug-in car registrations in July, up 208% compared to the same month last year. Those 1,362 pulled the year-to-date count to 10,444 units (+139%). That meant that last month’s EV market share of all car sales reached 3.8%, and the 2018 EV market share figure held steady at 3.6%.

The new generation of the Nissan Leaf is seeing market-leading sales in the Netherlands, scoring its fifth consecutive month of 200-something registrations. The VW e-Golf ending July in the runner-up place, with 182 units, while the Tesla Model S was third, with 164 deliveries, its best first-month-of-quarter result ever! Its Model X sibling also hit a first-month-of-quarter record, with 74 registrations. If that’s an indication of coming months, it could mean that September will see new delivery records for both models. Do I hear 1,000 each?

Also of interest is the fact that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) had their best month (312 units) since they were hit with the end of incentives back in December 2016. Two models in particular are shining: The efficient Hyundai Ioniq PHEV scored 64 deliveries in only its third month on the market, while the new Porsche Cayenne PHEV landed with a bang, registering 61 units in its first full sales month. The latter was the best start for a PHEV in over two years.

Looking at the 2018 ranking, there were no significant changes in the top positions, as the best sellers took some holiday breaks.

Considering the positive results from Tesla in the usually weak first month of the quarter, the main significant change in the next couple of months in the top 5 should be the Tesla Model X going after the #2 spot. Just 351 units separate it from the Nissan Leaf, and that gap will probably be covered in in the next “Tesla high tide” (September).

But in the B-League PHEV League, there are some interesting developments. The Porsche Panamera PHEV continues to be #1 for the year through July, with 254 units delivered (34 in July), which also put it #9 in the overall plug-in vehicle ranking. The best seller of the month, however, was for the Hyundai Ioniq PHEV — the second time in a row. That model finally made its official debut in this market three months ago. In July, it had 64 registrations, jumping two positions to #12. It seems the efficient Korean hatchback could make the PHEV podium soon, with only the #1 Panamera PHEV safe from its expected rise.

Speaking of Porsche, the new Cayenne PHEV joined the top 20 as well, in #16, thanks to 61 registrations last month. That was the Cayenne PHEV’s best performance in this market since December 2015, with the German SUV possibly going for a podium position in the PHEV ranking by the end of the year. If that were to happen, a #1 & #3 podium showing for Porsche in the PHEV league would be a great prelude for the Taycan’s arrival.

Elsewhere, the BMW 330e climbed two positions, to #14, thanks to 31 deliveries. That was its best result in 19 months, which is rather surprising when you consider this could be one of the most hardly hit models by the arrival of the Tesla Model 3. Is BMW trying to make the most of the 3-Series PHEV before Tesla’s midsizer casts its long shadow over it?

Outside the top 20, the Jaguar I-PACE is starting to gain … pace. It had 23 registrations last month, putting the British crossover just 6 units away from the #20 position. Expect it to join the table next month, leaping positions from then on until December.

In the manufacturer ranking, Tesla (29%, down 2%) is miles ahead in the lead, with the runner-up Nissan (14%) slightly above Volkswagen (13%) while Hyundai and BMW (both with 10% share) are waiting for an opportunity to join the podium.

Regular Hybrids + Plug-ins Ranking

If we add regular hybrids to plug-ins, you can see that the domination that Toyota has in other markets is diluted here, with the best selling hybrid actually being the Kia Niro, ahead of the Toyota C-HR Hybrid and Yaris Hybrid.

Outside the podium, two fully electric cars show up ahead of the remaining hybrids, with the Nissan Leaf being #4 and the VW e-Golf #5.

Tesla Model S vs Class Competitors

Despite being the first quarter of the month, the Model S held steady in second place, mirroring July’s results, with the Californian staying only behind the BMW 5 Series, by just 15 units (179 vs 164).

Tesla Model X vs Class Competitors

Big SUVs were hardly hit with the end of PHEV incentives, to the profit of the American sports minivan SUV, the only one still selling in significant volumes.

But it seems the Model X has now found competition worthy of the name, with the Porsche Cayenne outselling it (77 vs 74) last month, mostly thanks to its PHEV version — 61 registrations represented 79% of all Cayennes registered in July.

This allowed the German SUV to jump two positions to #3, and could even threaten the Volvo XC90 in the months to come.

See June & July’s Netherlands EV sales report.