The Dutch plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market had another positive sales month in April, with 2,520 plug-in vehicle registrations, up 150% year over year (YoY). That translated as a PEV share of 8% across the overall auto market, pulling the year-to-date (YTD) count to 12,944 units, and keeping the 2019 PEV share at 9% — above last year’s final result.
If we only consider fully electric vehicles (BEVs), the EV share last month was 7%, with the same value for 2019 share.
The Tesla Model 3 continues to lead the way, having delivered 467 units last month, a brilliant performance, especially considering it’s the first month of the quarter — the low point in Tesla’s deliveries carrousel.
Two other recently introduced long-range BEVs closed out the top three positions, with the Hyundai Kona EV (371 units) and Kia Niro EV (359 units, new personal best for the second time in a row) cousins underlining the current competitiveness of Hyundai–Kia EVs.
A bit surprisingly, the VW e-Golf was 5th, with 216 units, a meritable performance for a model that is less than a year from being replaced by the much improved VW ID.3, a vehicle which promises to pull the German automaker ahead of the pack. I guess name recognition is a strong point here…
| Rank | Model | April Sales |
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | 467 |
| 2 | Hyundai Kona EV | 371 |
| 3 | Kia Niro EV | 359 |
| 3 | Nissan Leaf | 259 |
| 5 | VW e-Golf | 216 |
Looking at the 2019 ranking, after such a memorable March, it was time to chill and take a break, with only three changes in the ranking. The most important change was the Audi e-tron showing up in #17, having registered 55 units last month. That placed it as April’s best selling luxury SUV.
Additional position changes happened outside the top 10 — the Range Rover Sport PHEV climbed to#12, while the Mini Countryman PHEV had its best score so far (38 registrations) and jumped two spots, to #18.
A final mention is owed to 34 registrations of the BMW i8, the high-end model’s best score ever. That allowed the i8 to be April’s best selling sports car (all powertrains), beating even the almighty Porsche 911 (30 units).
| Rank | Model | April | YTD | 2019 PEV Share |
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | 467 | 3,164 | 24.4% |
| 2 | Hyundai Kona EV | 371 | 1,606 | 12.4% |
| 3 | VW e-Golf | 216 | 1,247 | 9.6% |
| 4 | Nissan Leaf | 254 | 1,239 | 9.6% |
| 5 | Kia Niro EV | 359 | 1,153 | 8.9% |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | 94 | 865 | 6.7% |
| 7 | BMW i3 | 173 | 723 | 5.6% |
| 8 | Renault Zoe | 113 | 548 | 4.2% |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq Electric | 63 | 426 | 3.3% |
| 10 | Volvo XC60 PHEV | 22 | 277 | 2.1% |
| 11 | Opel Ampera-e | 32 | 203 | 1.6% |
| 12 | Land Rover Range Rover Sport PHEV | 37 | 151 | 1.2% |
| 13 | Volvo V60 T8 PHEV | 16 | 146 | 1.1% |
| 14 | Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV | 19 | 118 | 0.9% |
| 15 | BMW 530e | 30 | 113 | 0.9% |
| 16 | Smart Forfour ED | 23 | 105 | 0.8% |
| 17 | Audi e-Tron | 55 | 97 | 0.7% |
| 18 | Mini Countryman PHEV | 38 | 89 | 0.7% |
| 19 | Porsche Panamera PHEV | 18 | 79 | 0.6% |
| 20 | Land Rover Range Rover PHEV | 14 | 77 | 0.6% |
| + | Others | 106 | 518 | 4.0% |
| = | TOTAL | 2,520 | 12,944 | 100.0% |
Source: RAI Vereniging and EV Volumes
In the manufacturer ranking, Tesla is the undisputed leader (25%, down 1%), followed by Hyundai (15%), while Volkswagen and Nissan (10%) are racing for the 3rd spot. Not far behind, Kia (9%) is on the lookout for a podium position.
Tesla Model 3 & the ICE competition
| Rank | Model | 2019 Sales |
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | 3,164 |
| 2 | Volvo S/V60 PHEV | 1,758 |
| 3 | BMW 3 Series | 1,643 |
| 4 | Mercedes C-Class | 1,179 |
| 5 | Audi A4 | 653 |
Many are curious how well the Model 3 is able to compete with its gas & diesel competitors. In the US, the Model 3 is holding onto #1. In Europe, playing away from home, how can it do?
The answer is now being written. Comparing Model 3 deliveries against its midsize premium competitors, we can see that it is kicking some premium ass outrunning all of them by a sizable margin. Although, in April, the BMW 3 Series managed to surpass the Model 3 (530 vs 467 units).
Will the revised BMW 330e, said to start selling in the summer, help the Bimmer to shorten the distance between it and the Model 3?
Maybe, maybe not, but first, it will have to catch the Swedish twins. Then it can focus on the Tesla. Maybe next month?
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