For the first time, an electric car dominates the ranking of the best European sales. In September, the Tesla Model 3 overtook the Renault Clio and the Dacia Sandero.
The Tesla Model 3 topped Europe’s bestsellers in September, beating the Renault Clio and Dacia Sandero on the podium, a first for an all-electric car, according to a report released Monday by Jato Dynamics.
While the gasoline car market is gloomy, the entry-level 100% electric manufacturer sold nearly 24,600 copies, or 2.6% of the market, against nearly 18,300 Clios.
“This is the first time that an electric car has dominated the market and also a first for a vehicle manufactured outside of Europe,” Jato points out in his report.
These sales are partly explained by a traditional increase in Tesla sales in the month of September. But it is also a sparkling sign of the electrification of the European market.
Overall, the European car market collapsed in September, returning to 1995 levels with 718,598 new cars sold. The market has not recovered from the Covid-19 crisis and manufacturers are strongly affected by a shortage of electronic parts.
Increase in sales of electric and hybrid cars
But while sales of thermal cars are falling, registrations of hybrids and electrics are exploding. In the third quarter, more hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric cars were sold in Europe than petrol cars.
“In addition to subsidies, manufacturers have extended their offer (of hybrids and electrics) with more models and good deals. Many of them allocate their stock of parts as a priority (…) to production electric cars rather than thermal ones”, emphasizes Felipe Munoz of the Jato cabinet.
The Model Y, Tesla’s new SUV, ranks second in the market for 100% electric cars. Tesla thus logically dominates the ranking of electric vehicles in September, with a market share of 24%, just ahead of the Volkswagen group (22%), Stellantis (13%), and Hyundai-Kia (11%).
All engines combined, SUVs reached a record share in September with 46.5% of the market, also reports Jato. “If this trend continues, the roads of Europe could soon resemble those of the United States, where more than half of new cars sold are SUVs,” said Felipe Munoz.