The Swiss plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market smashed its previous sales record (1,341 registrations) last month by registering 2,162 vehicles. That meant that the PEV share jumped to 7.5% (6.4% from fully electric vehicles and 1.1% from plug-in hybrids), pulling the 2019 PEV share to 5.3% and thus almost doubling last year’s result.
The Tesla Model 3 delivery tsunami was the main reason for this brilliant performance, with the sedan scoring 1,094 registrations. That’s not only an absolute record for a plug-in vehicle, but also the first time that an electric vehicle is #1 on the vehicle market — across all fuel sources.
In the 2019 ranking, the Model 3 is #4 on the overall market, well ahead of its direct petrol/diesel competition, the Mercedes C-Class, which is only #9 in the mainstream market with 1,127 registrations. With even the #2 Volkswagen Golf (1,681 registrations) not that far away, the Californian could easily reach the runner-up spot this year. If it’s really ambitious, it could even aspire to remove the Skoda Octavia (2,361 units) from the leadership position.
But while the Model 3 is pulling plug-ins to new heights, the Tesla Model S and X are losing steam. Both ended 2018 in the PEV top 5, but the highest placed (Model S) is now only #8.
Their petrol/diesel competitors are also further ahead. Last year, the Model S was running at the same pace as its category best sellers. This year, the class’s best seller (Mercedes E-Class — 551 units) is selling much more than the Tesla flagship. Things for the Model X are even worse. Last year, it managed to feature regularly in the category’s top 5, but now it is only #12 in the full size SUV class … and only 4 units ahead of the brand new Audi e-tron.
The Audi e-tron landed on the right foot, by delivering 93 units in its debut month, jumping immediately to #11 and sitting only 4 units behind the Tesla Model X. Two other fairly new long-range electric vehicles are also shining, with the Hyundai Kona EV in #4 and the Jaguar I-PACE in #9.
On the plug-in hybrid side, the leader is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, in #5, being followed by the #7 Volvo XC60 PHEV, which is 48 units behind the Japanese SUV.
Another Swede in the news is the new generation Volvo V60 PHEV, which joined the top 20 in #16, delivering 31 units last month. That was the nameplate’s best performance ever on this market.
In the manufacturer ranking, Switzerland is now Tesla turf (Tesla has 42% share of the PEV market), while Renault (10%) is in a distant 2nd place, followed by BMW (9%) and Volvo (8%), which is set to return to the medal positions soon.
| Rank | Model | March | 2019 | 2019 PEV Share |
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | 1,094 | 1,371 | 36% |
| 2 | Renault Zoe | 151 | 364 | 10% |
| 3 | BMW i3 | 79 | 222 | 6% |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona EV | 82 | 214 | 6% |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 86 | 181 | 5% |
| 6 | Nissan Leaf | 46 | 163 | 4% |
| 7 | Volvo XC60 PHEV | 39 | 133 | 4% |
| 8 | Tesla Model S | 80 | 129 | 3% |
| 9 | Jaguar I-PACE | 70 | 123 | 3% |
| 10 | Tesla Model X | 68 | 97 | 3% |
| 11 | Audi e-Tron | 93 | 93 | 2% |
| 12 | Mini Countryman PHEV | 37 | 91 | 2% |
| 13 | BMW 225xe Active Tourer | 19 | 85 | 2% |
| 14 | VW e-Golf | 34 | 78 | 2% |
| 15 | Volvo XC90 PHEV | 25 | 68 | 2% |
| 16 | Volvo V60 PHEV | 31 | 42 | 1% |
| 17 | Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV | 10 | 31 | 1% |
| 18 | Smart Fortwo ED | 3 | 30 | 1% |
| 19 | Kia Niro PHEV | 24 | 29 | 1% |
| 20 | Land Rover Range Rover PHEV | 7 | 26 | 1% |
| + | Others | 84 | 229 | 6% |
| = | TOTAL | 2,162 | 3,799 | 100% |
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