Tesla Model 3 Lands In Hot Market
February had 2,457 plug-in vehicle (PEV) registrations in February, up 232% year over year (YoY), which translates into a PEV share of 8.2%. That pulls the year-to-date (YTD) count to 5,713 units (+213%) and a 7.4% market share. Within the PEV market, fully electric vehicles (BEVs) represented 80% of registrations, or 5.9% of overall market share.
This good market performance was the result of several strong individual results, starting with the best seller of the month, the Tesla Model 3. The newest Tesla addition registered 472 units in its first month of deliveries in the Netherlands, providing it with the #15 spot in the mainstream market.
Interestingly, the remaining podium positions belonged to two other relatively new, long-range BEVs. The Hyundai Kona EV (323 units) and Kia Niro EV (319) underlined the changing market dynamics. Do I hear the the word “disruption” in the background? (Side note: The Hyundai Kona EV was the 2019 CleanTechnica Car of the Year, the Kia Niro EV was the runner-up, and the Tesla Model 3 was the 2018 CleanTechnica Car of the Year.)
Off the podium, the Nissan LEAF (311 registrations) pumped out another decent performance, while the BMW i3 and VW e-Golf, both tied in #5, rounded out the top 5.
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was #7, with 152 registrations, and was thus by far the best selling PHEV in this market.
| February Rank | Model | Sales |
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | 472 |
| 2 | Hyundai Kona EV | 323 |
| 3 | Kia Niro EV | 319 |
| 4 | Nissan Leaf | 311 |
| 5
5 |
BMW i3
VW e-Golf |
180
180 |
Looking at the 2019 ranking (at an admittedly early month in the year), we have a new leader, with the Hyundai Kona EV surpassing the VW e-Golf. The Tesla Model 3 jumped to 4th place, and the Kia Niro EV made it up to #5. That makes a 100% BEV top 5.
Outside the top 10, the Smart Forfour rose two positions to #14, while the new-generation Volvo V60 PHEV joined the top 20, in #18, with 35 deliveries in February.
The #12 Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV is the current best selling luxury SUV, but the Volvo XC90 PHEV is running close.
In the large luxury class, we have the #15 BMW 530e (50 units) ahead of the competition (Panamera PHEV and Model S), but none of the numbers are very significant.
In the manufacturer ranking, Hyundai (20%, down 1%) is the current leader, with Volkswagen (15%, down 5%) following it, while Nissan (12%) is in the 3rd Spot, ahead of Kia and Mitsubishi (both with 8%).
| YTD Rank | PEV Model | February | YTD | PEV Share |
| 1 | Hyundai Kona EV | 323 | 859 | 15% |
| 2 | VW e-Golf | 180 | 829 | 15% |
| 3 | Nissan Leaf | 311 | 702 | 12% |
| 4 | Tesla Model 3 | 472 | 512 | 9% |
| 5 | Kia Niro EV | 319 | 473 | 8% |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 152 | 471 | 8% |
| 7 | Renault Zoe | 90 | 327 | 6% |
| 8 | BMW i3 | 180 | 292 | 5% |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq Electric | 94 | 262 | 5% |
| 10 | Volvo XC60 PHEV | 69 | 209 | 4% |
| 11 | Opel Ampera-e | 48 | 131 | 2% |
| 12 | LR Range Rover Sport PHEV | 23 | 84 | 1% |
| 13 | Volvo XC90 PHEV | 21 | 72 | 1% |
| 14 | Smart Forfour ED | 28 | 56 | 1% |
| 15 | BMW 530e | 15 | 50 | 1% |
| 16 | LR Range Rover PHEV | 9 | 46 | 1% |
| 17 | Mini Countryman PHEV | 12 | 40 | 1% |
| 18 | Volvo V60 T8 PHEV | 35 | 36 | 1% |
| 19 | Porsche Panamera PHEV | 4 | 27 | 0% |
| 20 | Tesla Model S | 10 | 24 | 0% |
| + | Others | 62 | 211 | 4% |
| ALL | TOTAL | 2,457 | 5,713 | 100% |
Source: RAI Vereniging
Tesla Model 3 & The ICE Competition
| February Rank | Model | Sales |
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | 472 |
| 2 | Mercedes C-Class | 411 |
| 3 | Volvo S/V60 PHEV | 301 |
| 4 | BMW 3-Series | 169 |
| 5 | Audi A4 | 131 |
One of the question marks around the Model 3 in Europe regards the impact it’s going to have on this side of the Atlantic. Will it disrupt the PEV and ICE sedan market in the same way that it is doing in the US, or will it be more subdued, because it is playing away from home?
The answer is now starting to be written. Comparing the Tesla Model 3 deliveries in the vehicle’s first month on the market against its midsize premium competitors, we can see that it has managed to outrun them all. Meanwhile, Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series registrations are down some 50%, but Mercedes sales are actually up, which could mean that BMW and Audi buyers are defecting to Tesla in much larger numbers than Mercedes loyalists.
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