The new Tonale triggers a spectacular sales lift for Alfa Romeo.
New car sales in Europe continue their recovery with preliminary data by ACEA showing the market (EU+EFTA+UK) up for the 7th month in a row at +12.2% to 902,775 units. The year-to-date cumulative volume after two months stands at 1,814,048, up 11.5% over the same period in 2022. Among the Top 5 markets, the UK (+26.2%) fares best ahead of Spain (+19.2%) and Italy (+17.4%). France (+9.4%) and Germany (+2.8%) are below the market growth rate. Other countries in frank positive include Romania (+44.5%), Portugal (+38.4%), Bulgaria (+34.1%), Croatia (+26.6%) and Latvia (+26%). At the other end of the scale, Sweden (-12.7%), Norway (-8.7%), Cyprus (-8.2%), Finland (-3%) and Slovenia (-1.1%) are the only countries in negative this month.
Germany leads the BEV volumes at 32,475 (+14.7%) ahead of France at 19,595 (+45.7%), the UK at 12,310 (+18.2%), the Netherlands at 6,892 (+88.9%), Norway at 6,183 (+0.4%), Sweden at 6,123 (+13.1%) and Belgium at 5,624 (+83.3%). Across the EU, BEV soar 39.7% to 97,300 and 12.1% share and HEV are up 22.3% to 204,883 and 25.5% share. Petrol is up 11.1% to 36.9% share, however PHEV are down -7.4% to 7.2% share and diesel off -8.4% to 15% share. Looking at market shares by Top 5 market, Germany has 15.7% for BEV, 5.8% for PHEV and 22.8% for HEV for a 44.4% share for electrified vehicles. BEV account for 16.5% share in the UK, PHEV for 6.3% and HEV for 29.2% to a total electrified share of 52.1%. In France, BEV are at 15.5%, PHEV at 8.3% and HEV at 23.1% for a total of 46.9%. Italy sees BEV at 3.7%, PHEV at 4.2% and HEV at 36.5% for a total of 44.5% and Spain has 4.5% for BEV, 6.5% for PHEV and 30.6% for HEV for a total of 45.8%.
The Volkswagen Group (+21.2%) posts a splendid year-on-year gain atop the Groups ranking. It distances an underperforming Stellantis edging up just 2%. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi is in great shape at +26.1%, the largest uptick in the Top 8. Hyundai-Kia (+1.4%) is very timid at #4 ahead of a solid Toyota Group (+14.4%). The BMW Group (-5.7%) hits reverse ahead of Mercedes (+4.2%) and Ford Motor (+3.6%) both shy. Tesla (+47.2%) returns to the Top 10 at #9.
In the brands aisle, Volkswagen (+22.6%) is very solid in the top spot ahead of Toyota (+14.8%) also strong. In the space of a year, Toyota has managed to settle in the 2nd European place – it has ranked there every single month since January 2022. This coincides with the launch of the Yaris Cross, which seems to attract new customers into the brand. Peugeot (+6.3%) closes the podium in relatively weak fashion, above Skoda (+21.3%) posting another great result. Audi (+19.3%) closes the Top 5 in outstanding manner. Once again Dacia (+53.6%) manages the biggest lift in the Top 10 but returns below Renault (+11.6%) at #8. Further down, Alfa Romeo (+127.9%), MG (+118.6%), Cupra (+66.4%), Land Rover (+63.9%), Tesla (+47.2%), Nissan (+38.2%), Porsche (+33.7%) and Mazda (+28.3%) make themselves noticed.
Previous month: Europe January 2023: Market up 10.7%, Dacia (+40.2%) #6, outsells Renault for 1st time, places Sandero at #1
One year ago: Europe February 2022: Market down -6.7%, Hyundai (+25.1%), Kia (+21.8%) shine, VW Golf back to #1
Full February 2023 Top 10 groups and Top 30 brands below.
Europe February 2023 – groups (Source ACEA):
| Pos | Group | Feb-23 | /22 | Pos | 2023 | /21 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Volkswagen Group | 235,404 | 21.2% | 1 | 473,314 | 18.1% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Stellantis | 167,097 | 2.0% | 2 | 323,838 | 1.0% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi | 113,126 | 26.1% | 3 | 229,851 | 23.7% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Hyundai-Kia | 77,375 | 1.4% | 4 | 162,835 | 1.1% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Toyota Group | 65,059 | 14.4% | 5 | 141,322 | 15.2% | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | BMW Group | 56,092 | -5.7% | 6 | 111,718 | -8.2% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | Mercedes | 50,017 | 4.2% | 8 | 102,821 | 7.9% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Ford Motor | 39,209 | 3.6% | 7 | 77,001 | 1.0% | 8 | 8 |
| 9 | Tesla | 23,449 | 47.2% | n/a | 32,835 | 95.8% | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | Geely Group | 19,996 | 3.6% | 9 | 40,803 | 4.7% | 9 | 9 |
Europe February 2023 – brands (Source ACEA):
| Pos | Brand | Feb-23 | /22 | Jan | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Volkswagen | 96,864 | 22.6% | 1 | 196,725 | 19.0% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota | 62,067 | 14.8% | 2 | 134,462 | 15.4% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Peugeot | 53,527 | 6.3% | 6 | 100,327 | -2.1% | 4 | 5 |
| 4 | Skoda | 50,851 | 21.3% | 3 | 102,037 | 18.5% | 3 | 9 |
| 5 | Audi | 49,456 | 19.3% | 4 | 97,645 | 14.7% | 6 | 6 |
| 6 | Mercedes | 48,565 | 5.4% | 12 | 99,959 | 9.2% | 5 | 4 |
| 7 | Renault | 46,482 | 11.6% | 7 | 93,149 | 11.1% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | Dacia | 44,760 | 53.6% | 5 | 92,745 | 46.6% | 8 | 12 |
| 9 | BMW | 44,667 | -2.2% | 9 | 89,984 | -2.9% | 9 | 3 |
| 10 | Kia | 39,424 | 0.7% | 8 | 85,518 | -1.0% | 10 | 8 |
| 11 | Ford | 39,209 | 3.6% | 11 | 77,001 | 1.0% | 12 | 11 |
| 12 | Hyundai | 37,951 | 2.2% | 10 | 77,317 | 3.4% | 11 | 10 |
| 13 | Opel/Vauxhall | 33,807 | 1.7% | 14 | 62,844 | -4.7% | 13 | 13 |
| 14 | Fiat | 30,590 | 0.5% | 13 | 62,454 | 7.6% | 14 | 14 |
| 15 | Citroën | 28,925 | -7.1% | 15 | 56,071 | -3.0% | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Tesla | 23,449 | 47.2% | 24 | 32,835 | 95.8% | 19 | 18 |
| 17 | Seat | 20,671 | -21.5% | 16 | 40,751 | -18.8% | 17 | 19 |
| 18 | Volvo | 19,996 | 3.6% | 17 | 40,803 | 4.7% | 16 | 17 |
| 19 | Nissan | 19,377 | 38.2% | 18 | 38,776 | 29.3% | 18 | 16 |
| 20 | Mazda | 12,487 | 28.3% | 19 | 27,438 | 35.5% | 20 | 21 |
| 21 | Suzuki | 12,051 | 12.8% | 21 | 24,646 | 16.7% | 21 | 23 |
| 22 | Mini | 11,425 | -17.1% | 22 | 21,734 | -24.9% | 22 | 20 |
| 23 | Cupra | 10,588 | 66.4% | 26 | 19,632 | 59.5% | 25 | 22 |
| 24 | Jeep | 9,726 | 1.4% | 23 | 19,677 | 5.0% | 24 | 25 |
| 25 | MG (est) | 7,450 | 118.6% | 20 | 20,473 | 157.3% | 23 | 24 |
| 26 | Porsche | 6,557 | 33.7% | 25 | 15,614 | 21.0% | 26 | 27 |
| 27 | Land Rover | 5,893 | 63.9% | 27 | 13,914 | 41.9% | 27 | 26 |
| 28 | DS | 4,102 | 21.2% | 29 | 8,053 | 21.8% | 29 | 30 |
| 29 | Honda | 3,681 | -35.5% | 28 | 8,371 | -25.1% | 28 | 28 |
| 30 | Alfa Romeo | 3,384 | 127.9% | 31 | 6,858 | 118.6% | 31 | 33 |
Source: ACEA
