The Dacia Sandero is the #1 model in Europe in January.
According to preliminary data by ACEA, the European new car market (EU+EFTA+UK) continues on its upward trend in January with a 10.7% year-on-year improvement to 911,064 sales. Among the Top 5 markets, Spain (+51.4%) fares best above Italy (+19%) and the UK (+14.7%), while France (+8.8%) and Germany (-2.6%) are below the average growth rate. Greece (+90.7%), Portugal (+48.4%), Romania (+31.4%), Poland (+21%) and Austria (+20.7%) also post spectacular gains. At the opposite end of the spectrum Norway (-76.6%), Sweden (-26.6%) and Iceland (-17.2%) fall hard.
We now have access to volumes and market shares by propulsion. As far as BEV are concerned, no surprise we have Norway in the lead with 66.5% share above Sweden at 28.8%, Iceland at 26.8% and Finland at 26%. Northern Europe is clearly ahead of the curve at the moment as below we have Denmark (21.2%). Then Luxembourg (18.1%), Switzerland (17.3%), Netherlands (15.5%) and Portugal (15.4%). Among the Top 5 the UK and France are both at 13.1%, Germany at 10.1% Spain at a meagre 4.8% and Italy at 2.6%. Other poor performing countries include Slovakia at 1.6%, the lowest BEV share in all of Europe, Bulgaria at 2.3%, Czech Republic at 2.5%, Greece at 2.6%, Poland at 3.1% and Estonia at 3.3%.
The Volkswagen Group (+11.9%) outpaces the market slightly to easily stay atop the groups charts above Stellantis (-0.2%) disappointingly stable. Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi soars 21.3% to consolidate its third position while Hyundai-Kia (+0.7%) is very shy in context and the Toyota Group (+11.4%) roughly matches the Europe-wide growth rate. Below, the BMW Group (-10.8%), Ford (-2%) and Daimler (-7.4%) struggle. Mazda (+42.1%) makes a rare appearance in the Top 10.
Brand-wise, Volkswagen (+16.2%) just passes the 100,000 sales milestone ahead of Toyota (+12%) and Skoda (+15.9%) at #3, its highest since April 2022 when it also ranked #3. Audi (+10.5%) is just below the market growth at #4 vs. #6 in December and FY 2022 while Dacia (+40.7%) shoots up to #5, its first ever month inside the European Top 5 and outselling sister brand Renault (+10.6%) for the first time in European history. The Sandero is also the best-selling car in Europe this month (models update to come soon). Below, Tesla (+1021.9%!), MG (+186.2%), Mazda (+42.1%), Nissan (+21.3%) and Suzuki (+20.6%) shine.
Previous post: Europe 2022: Peugeot 208 ends VW Golf’s 14-year domination, market down -4.1%
One year ago: Europe January 2022: Toyota (+10.3%), Kia (+36.2%) defy market down -2.4%, Sandero #1, Yaris Cross in Top 10
Full January 2023 Top 10 groups and Top 30 brands below.
Europe January 2023 – groups (Source ACEA):
| Pos | Group | Jan-23 | /22 | Dec | FY22 |
| 1 | Volkswagen Group | 238,000 | 11.9% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Stellantis | 156,553 | -0.2% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi | 116,728 | 21.3% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Hyundai-Kia | 85,444 | 0.7% | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Toyota Group | 73,299 | 11.4% | 7 | 6 |
| 6 | BMW Group | 55,448 | -10.8% | 4 | 5 |
| 7 | Ford Motor | 37,609 | -2.0% | 10 | 8 |
| 8 | Daimler | 35,977 | -7.4% | 6 | 7 |
| 9 | Geely Group | 20,736 | 5.3% | 9 | 9 |
| 10 | Mazda | 14,950 | 42.1% | n/a | n/a |
Europe January 2023 – brands (Source ACEA):
| Pos | Brand | Jan-23 | /22 | Dec | FY22 |
| 1 | Volkswagen | 100,213 | 16.2% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Toyota | 69,978 | 12.0% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Skoda | 51,241 | 15.9% | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Audi | 48,241 | 10.5% | 6 | 6 |
| 5 | Dacia | 47,998 | 40.7% | 8 | 12 |
| 6 | Peugeot | 46,789 | -10.3% | 10 | 5 |
| 7 | Renault | 46,714 | 10.6% | 4 | 7 |
| 8 | Kia | 46,094 | -2.3% | 14 | 8 |
| 9 | BMW | 45,147 | -3.9% | 3 | 3 |
| 10 | Hyundai | 39,350 | 4.5% | 12 | 10 |
| 11 | Ford | 37,609 | -2.0% | 11 | 11 |
| 12 | Mercedes | 34,632 | -6.8% | 5 | 4 |
| 13 | Fiat | 31,828 | 15.3% | 16 | 14 |
| 14 | Opel/Vauxhall | 29,048 | -11.2% | 13 | 13 |
| 15 | Citroën | 27,152 | 1.8% | 17 | 15 |
| 16 | Seat | 20,968 | -12.9% | 22 | 19 |
| 17 | Volvo | 20,736 | 5.3% | 15 | 17 |
| 18 | Nissan | 19,343 | 21.3% | 18 | 16 |
| 19 | Mazda | 14,950 | 42.1% | 23 | 21 |
| 20 | MG (est) | 13,023 | 186.2% | 21 | 24 |
| 21 | Suzuki | 12,581 | 20.6% | 26 | 23 |
| 22 | Mini | 10,300 | -32.1% | 19 | 20 |
| 23 | Jeep | 9,927 | 8.5% | 24 | 25 |
| 24 | Tesla | 9,469 | 1021.9% | 7 | 18 |
| 25 | Porsche | 8,597 | 7.4% | 25 | 27 |
| 26 | Cupra | 8,249 | 38.8% | 20 | 22 |
| 27 | Land Rover | 8,008 | 29.3% | 28 | 26 |
| 28 | Honda | 4,690 | -14.2% | n/a | 28 |
| 29 | DS | 3,954 | 22.5% | n/a | 30 |
| 30 | Lancia | 3,586 | 9.6% | n/a | 31 |
Source: ACEA
