Germany February 2017

Germany February 2017

Image result for Zoe vs i3



Getting Warmer

Some 2.918 plug-in passenger cars were registered last month in Germany, up 50% YoY, with the EV Share rising slightly to a new record (1.2%), significantly above from the 0.75% registered last year, it's been a long time coming, but it seems the German market is finally warming up to plug-ins.

Looking at the February Best Selling models, the Renault Zoe had its best result in over a year (431 units), doubling the deliveries it had a year ago, it seems the local importer finally had enough ZE40 units to make an impression, will this high number be the new normal or will sales drop once the novelty factor fades?

The BMW i3 (305 units) continues on a high note, while its 225xe Active Tourer relative broke its own record in February, with 282 registrations, no doubt helped by the incentives scheme, while the remaining models on this Top 5 had positive results, although the Soul EV performances here should be always be considered with a grain of salt...

PlModel
Sales  
1Renault Zoe431
2
BMW i3
305
3BMW 225xe Active Tourer282
3
Kia Soul EV
282
5Audi A3 e-Tron171

Looking at the YTD ranking, the Top Two BMW i3 and Renault Zoe are already gaining ground on the remaining competition, so it looks the 2017 race will be a two horse race. like in the previous year.

The Kia Soul EV climbed to Fourth, benefitting on the Outlander PHEV three positions drop.

The  veteran Citroen C-Zero had its best result in four years(!), with 25 registrations, jumping four positions to #23, while its Peugeot iOn twin is doing even better, its #18 with 93 units, its best result EVER since it landed in German lands, 600 seven years ago. I bet the incentives scheme has something to do with this...

Speaking of PSA brands, in February the Opel Ampera-e added na additional 15 units to the tally, climibing two positions to #30, no doubt still demonstration units, with volume numbers said to arrive during Summer, expect it to jump into the Top 10 afterwards and maybe win a Bronze Medal by year end.

In the manufacturers ranking, BMW (25%, up 3%) is in the lead, followed by Volkswagen and Mercedes, both with 10% share.

An interesting bit of trivia is that BEV's are growing faster (102% vs 16%) than PHEV's, which is a good indication for the remainder of the year, especially considering the e-Golf and Ampera-e are still to make its mark in the market.

PlGermanyFeb. YTD%'16 Pl
1
2
BMW i3 *
Renault Zoe
305
431
693
611
12
11
1
2
3
4
BMW 225xe Active Tourer
Kia Soul EV
282
282
492
459
9
8
10
7
5
6
Mitsu. Outlander PHEV
Audi A3 e-Tron
164
171
446
328
8
6
6
4
7Volkswagen Passat GTE12127859
8Tesla Model S16325955
9Nissan Leaf1172324
11
10
11
12
Volkswagen e-Up!
Mercedes C350e  e)
Volvo XC90 T8 
102
65
52
195
160
140
3
3
2
17
15
13
13
14
15
Mercedes B250e
Mercedes GLC350e 
Audi Q7 e-Tron
61
71
42
129
126
102
2
2
2
18
23
13
16Mercedes E350e
41
95232
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
24
24
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Tesla Model X
Peugeot iOn
Mercedes GLE500e
BMW 330e
Porsche Cayenne Plug-In
Volkswagen e-Golf
BMW 740e
Citröen C-Zero
BMW i8
Volkswagen Golf GTE
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Mercedes S500e   e)
Nissan e-NV200 / Evalia
BMW X5 40e
Opel Ampera-e
Porsche Panamera PHEV
Volvo V60 Plug-In
BMW 530e
Mini Countryman PHEV
Others
39
39
38
51
33
29
21
25
25
15
12
24
14
14
15
9
13
11
7
14
94
93
90
75
54
50
47
43
41
41
41
39
35
32
28
26
20
13
7
19
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
19
31
24
20
21
12
28
34
27
8
20
26
29
22
N/A
30
25
N/A
N/A

TOTAL
2.918
5.633
100


* - 168 Bev + 137 Rex 


Source: kba.de


Tesla Model S & Others

Pl
Model
Feb. Sales  
1
Audi A7
374
2
Porsche Panamera
237
3
Tesla Model S
163
4
Mercedes CLS
144
5
BMW 6-Series
127

Looking at the Premium Sports Sedans class, the usual winner Mercedes CLS is down to Fourth, no doubt in need for a new Generation, with the Audi A7 inheriting the Throne, with 374 units.

Interestingly, the Porsche Panamera is Second, with 237 units, no doubt benefitting from the new generation push, followed by the Tesla Model S, up 79% YoY to 163 units, a great result considering we are not in last-month-of-quarter season.




Germany January 2017

Germany January 2017

Image result for Zoe vs i3



Even the Germans are getting into EV's!

Some 2.715 plug-in passenger cars were registered last month in Germany, up 90% YoY, with the EV Share starting the year at a record 1.12%, significantly above from the 0.75% registered last year, it's been a long time coming, but it seems that this market is finally warming up to plug-ins.

Looking at the January Best Selling models, the BMW i3 started the year where it left off 2016, in the lead, in this case with 388 units, this time followed by the Outlander PHEV (282 units, best result in 19 months) and the BMW 225 Act. Tourer (210 units).

Just outside the podium we have the Renault Zoe, with a rather disappointing 180 units, it seems Renault prioritized other markets for the ZE 40 deliveries, while Kia registered 177 units of its Soul EV.

PlModel
Sales  
1BMW i3388
2Mit. Outlander PHEV282
3BMW 225xe A. Tourer210
4
Renault Zoe
180
5Kia Soul EV177

Looking below, the veteran Nissan Leaf continues to post surprisingly good results (115 units, up 51% YoY), no doubt thanks to generous incentives, but the same can't be said about the VW e-Golf and Golf GTE twins, both experiencing their lowest sales levels in over two years, the 2017 edition of both models can't come soon enough.

Rather surprisingly, in January we saw the arrival of the first 13 units of the Opel Ampera-e, no doubt demonstration units, this model is another test on whether the European arm of GM is serious about EV's or if it's just empty talking, if they indeed follow the talk by walking the walk, expect this model to be a frequent Best Seller in the second half of the year.

In the manufacturers ranking, BMW (22%) started the year in the lead, followed by Mercedes(!), with 13% share (It ended 2016 in Fifth, with 8% share) and Volkswagen (12%).

An interesting bit of (Not so) trivia is that BEV's grew faster (150% vs 59%) than PHEV's, which is a good indication for the remainder of the year.

PlGermanyJan. YTD%'16 Pl
1
2
BMW i3 *
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
388
282
388
282
14
10
1
6
3
4
BMW 225xe Active Tourer
Renault Zoe
210
180
210
180
8
7
10
2
5
6
Kia Soul EV
Volkswagen Passat GTE
177
157
177
157
7
6
7
9
6Audi A3 e-Tron15715764
8Nissan Leaf115115411
9Tesla Model S96964
5
10
11
12
Mercedes C350e  e)
Volkswagen e-Up!
Volvo XC90 T8 
95
93
88
95
93
88
3
3
3
15
17
13
13
14
15
Mercedes B250e
Audi Q7 e-Tron
Mercedes GLC350e 
68
60
55
68
60
55
3
2
2
18
13
23
15Tesla Model X
55
55219
17
17
19
20
21
21
23
24
24
24
27
27
29
30
31
32
33
34

Peugeot iOn
Mercedes E350e
Mercedes GLE500e
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
BMW 740e
Volkswagen Golf GTE
BMW 330e
Porsche Cayenne Plug-In
Nissan e-NV200 / Evalia
Volkswagen e-Golf
BMW X5 40e
Citröen C-Zero
Porsche Panamera PHEV
BMW i8
Mercedes S500e   e)
Opel Ampera-e
Volvo V60 Plug-In
Kia Optima PHEV
Others
54
54
52
29
26
26
24
21
21
21
18
18
17
16
15
13
7
3
4
54
54
52
29
26
26
24
21
21
21
18
18
17
16
15
13
7
3
4
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
 1
31
32
24
35
28
8
20
21
29
12
22
34
30
27
26
N/A
25
39

TOTAL
2.715
2.715
100


* - 244 Bev + 144 Rex 

Source: kba.de
Germany December 2016 (Updated)

Germany December 2016 (Updated)

Image result for Zoe vs i3
Running neck to neck for Number One


Renault Zoe vs BMW i3

Some 3.011 plug-ins were registered last month in Germany, some 6% behind last year result, with the full year registrations ending at 27.404 units, a 12% increase over 2015, with the EV Share ending at 0.82%, slightly above the 0.75% registered last year.

Looking at the monthly models ranking, after a slow November, BMW pushed the i3 deliveries in December and returned to the Top Spot, with 433 units, followed by its arch-enemy, the Renault Zoe, with only 239 units, or about half the registrations it had in the same month last year, with the ZE40 version still on the first stages of delivery, the French hatch sat in a sort of no-mans-land last month, losing a precious advantage over the i3, but more on that later...

In Third Place we have once again the BMW 225xe Act. Tourer scoring a personal best for the second month in a row, to 236 units, this is possibly the model that benefited the most from the new incentives scheme made this year by the German government.

Fourth we have the Audi A3 e-Tron (183 registrations), while in Fifth we have the Outlander PHEV, with 180 units, its best result since March, possibly due to some heavy discounting, after all, let's not forget the Japanese SUV is racing the Renault Zoe for Europe's Best Selling Plug-in title and the Renault model is being caught with its pants down...

PlModel
Sales  
1BMW i3433
2Renault Zoe239
3BMW 225xe A. Tourer236
4
Audi A3 e-Tron
183
5Mit. Outlander PHEV180

While the mainstream German market is known for its extreme stability (I mean, Glaciars change more each month), the plug-in niche is the complete opposite, with frequent changes and a balanced ranking, and December was no exception:

- The race for the Best Seller title was decided by just 58 units, the smallest distance ever, with the BMW i3 overcoming the Renault Zoe by 2.863 to 2.805, with the aforementioned deliveries push by BMW proving to be crucial for the Bavarian hot hatch Second title, after the one earned in 2014;

- The VW Golf GTE dropped to #8, by registering only 46 units, down 68% YoY, to the benefit of the Outlander PHEV, ending in Sixth, and the Kia Soul EV, Seventh;

- The BMW 225xe Active Tourer just made it to the Top 10, switching positions with the Nissan Leaf, while the Tesla Model X reached #19, while two recent models have left their mark on the 2016 ranking, with the Mercedes E350e reaching #32 and the Hyundai Ioniq Electric #35. Expect both of them to end 2017 much higher...

Looking at some highlights for 2016, the race between the top two was quite entertaining, with the Renault Zoe proving to be competitive in German lands (Then again, there is no VW e-Polo...), the VW Golf GTE and Outlander PHEV had significant YoY drops, while Kia this year had the common sense to send directly their Soul EV's to Norway, with "sales" consequently stumbling to more normal levels.   
BMW (18%) won its Second manufacturers title, with last year winner Volkswagen (15%) and the 2012 champion, Renault (13%,) completing the podium.

Looking at the BEV / PHEV breakdown, plug-in hybrids increased slightly their share (41% to 45%) regarding 2015, but they still are outsold by BEV's in Germany.


PlGermanyDec. YTD%'15 Pl
1
2
BMW i3 *
Renault Zoe
433
239
2.863
2.805
10
10
2
6
3
4
5
StreetScooter   e)
Audi A3 e-Tron
Tesla Model S
150
183
160
1.800
1.615
1.474
7
6
5
N/A
5
7
6
7
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Kia Soul EV
180
121
1.436
1.384
5
5
3
1
8Volkswagen Golf GTE461.31554
9Volkswagen Passat GTE1421.25659
10
BMW 225xe Active Tourer2361.203420
11
12
13
Nissan Leaf
Volkswagen e-Golf
Audi Q7 e-Tron
112
28
52
1.121
860
797
4
3
3
10
8
24
14
15
16
Volvo XC90 T8
Mercedes C350e   e)
Renault Twizy   e)
77
47
30
689
681
680
3
3
3
28
13
15
17Volkswagen e-Up!
120
592212
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Mercedes B250e
Tesla Model X
BMW 330e
Porsche Cayenne Plug-In
BMW X5 40e
Mercedes GLC350e
Mercedes GLE500e
Volvo V60 Plug-In
Mercedes S500e    e)
BMW i8
BMW 740e
Nissan e-NV200 / Evalia
Porsche Panamera PHEV
Peugeot iOn
Mercedes E350e
Renault Kangoo ZE e)
Citroen C-Zero
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Others
22
111
20
24
32
59
24
23
20
26
24
14
28
24
72
5
16
39
24
437
430
386
363
360
296
284
282
257
243
208
186
157
154
142
140
113
80
315
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
 1
14
N/A
32
17
22
N/A
29
18
19
16
N/A
25
23
36
N/A
N/A
36
N/A

TOTAL
2.961
27.404
100



* - 290 Bev + 143 Rex 


e) Estimate

Source: kba.de




Tesla Model S vs The Others (*)


Pl
Model
Dec.
2016
1
Porsche Panamera
273
2
Mercedes CLS
179
3
Tesla Model S
160
4
Audi A7
148
5
BMW 6-Series
106


The Tesla Model S deliveries were down 32% YoY, to 160 units, despite this significant drop, the Californian actually ended December in an honorable Third Spot, ahead of the BMW 6-Series and Audi A7while the Second Placed Mercedes CLS was only 19 units ahead. 

More than the Model S influence, it seems these German Autobahn bruisers are suffering from the launch of the new (And much cooler) Porsche Panamera, currently the undisputed Top Dog, with 273 units.


(*) - Considering that the German market is one of the hardest for Tesla to crack, the models we are comparing are not the volume sellers like the Audi A6 or BMW 5-Series, but those that are closer in concept and price to the Californian Sports Sedan.
Germany November 2016

Germany November 2016

Image result for Zoe vs i3
Running neck to neck for Number One


Renault Zoe vs BMW i3

Some 2.664 plug-ins were registered last month in Germany, in line with last year result (2.676), with the EV Share at 0.74%, slightly below the 0.75% registered last year.

Looking at the November models ranking, the Renault Zoe returned to the Top Spot, with 303 units, its best result of the year (Stock clearance or were there already new 40 kWh units arriving?), followed by the BMW i3, with 291 units, down 26% over the previous month, a possible reason for this disappointing result is that BMW left its home market dry up a little, in order to dispatch as much units for Norway as possible.

In Third we have a surprise, with the BMW 225xe Act. Tourer scoring its best result ever, with 225 units, making it three consecutive months in the three digit area, this recent uptick in sales is probably due to the recent incentive scheme made by the German government.

Fourth we have the Nissan Leaf, pulling its best result (181 units) since March and proving that generous discounts can do wonders for a model performance, while in Fifth we have the VW Golf GTE, with 167 units, its best result since January, also possibly due to some nice dealership discounts...

PlModel
Sales  
1Renault Zoe303
2BMW i3291
3BMW 225xe A. Tourer225
4
Nissan Leaf
181
5Volkswagen Golf GTE167

Known for its balanced ranking and frequent position changes, the German YTD ranking didn't disappointed in November:

- The race for the Best Seller title is pretty much undecided, with the Renault Zoe and BMW i3 separated by just 135 units, a lot can still happen, but guess is that it will be a disputed race until the last days of December, with both models pushing sales to record levels;

- In the race for Third Place, the Audi A3 e-Tron seems to have the upper hand now, although the 118 units buffer still hasn't safeguarded it from the usual December deliveries peak of the Tesla Model S, but at this point i just don't see the Model S with enough strength to pull this off;

- The VW Golf GTE climbed to #5, surpassing the Kia Soul EV, that registered only 34 units, down 91% regarding October;

- The Volkswagen e-Up! had its best result in two years(!), with 109 registrations, climbing to #16, the Tesla Model X surpassed the BMW X5 PHEV, reaching #20, while the Mercedes SUV's keep on climbing, with the GLE500e up one position to #22 and its smaller brother, the GLC350e, is now #24.  

BMW (20%, up 1%) increased the lead in the manufacturers ranking, being followed by Volkswagen (16%) and Renault (15%).

PlGermanyNov. YTD%'15 Pl
1
2
Renault Zoe
BMW i3 *
303
291
2.565
2.430
11
11
6
2
3
4
Audi A3 e-Tron
Tesla Model S
158
84
1.432
1.314
6
6
5
7
5
6
Volkswagen Golf GTE
Kia Soul EV
167
34
1.269
1.263
6
6
4
1
7Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV1141.25663
8Volkswagen Passat GTE1131.11459
9Nissan Leaf1811.009410
10
11
12
BMW 225xe Active Tourer
Volkswagen e-Golf
Audi Q7 e-Tron
225
115
48
967
832
745
4
4
3
20
8
24
13
14
15
Mercedes C350e   e)
Renault Twizy   e)
Volvo XC90 T8 
56
20
55
634
620
612
3
3
3
13
15
28
16Volkswagen e-Up!
109
472212
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Mercedes B250e
BMW 330e
Porsche Cayenne Plug-In
Tesla Model X
BMW X5 40e
Mercedes GLE500e
Volvo V60 Plug-In
Mercedes S500e    e)
Mercedes GLC350e
BMW i8
BMW 740e
Nissan e-NV200 / Evalia
Renault Kangoo ZE e)
Peugeot iOn
Porsche Panamera PHEV
Citroen C-Zero
Smart Fortwo ED
Mercedes E350e
Citroen Berlingo EV e)
Others
51
38
38
63
47
25
22
15
74
16
24
41
10
25
10
4

33
5
50
415
366
339
338
328
260
259
237
237
217
184
172
135
130
129
97
78
70
50
206
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
 1
14
32
17
N/A
22
29
18
19
N/A
16
N/A
25
N/A
36
23
36
11
N/A
33

TOTAL
2.664
22.781
100



* - 181 Bev + 110 Rex 

e) Estimate

Source: kba.de
Germany October 2016

Germany October 2016

  

Changes Galore

After a brilliant September, with sales rising 41%, the German EV Market is back at so-so performances in October, with 2.660 units, down 3% regarding the same period last year.

With this result, the EV Share is stable at 0.7%, below the 0.75% registered last year.

Looking at the October models ranking, there weren't surprises at the Top 2 positions, with the BMW i3 and Kia Soul EV collecting Gold and Silver, but in Third Place we have the first surprise, with the Audi A3 e-Tron reaching its first podium in five months, with 266 units, its best result in 18 months.

In Fourth we have a regular on the Top 5, with the Outlander PHEV scoring 169 units, while in Fifth we have the Renault Zoe, with 147 units, its lowest result since January, and since September last year that the French hatch wasn't so low in the ranking. The 40 kWh version is needed badly here...

PlModel
Sales  
1BMW i3391
2Kia Soul EV372
3Audi A3 e-Tron266
4Mit. Outlander PHEV169
5Renault Zoe147

Known for its high volatility and balance, the ranking leader in Germany only has 11% share, the lowest value in the world, October showed once again this feature, with several changes and close races:

- The recent uptick in sales allowed the BMW i3 to reach closer to the leader Renault Zoe, right now only 123 units separate them, November should see the German Hot Hatch surpass the leader, but the big question will be in December, will Renault deliver enough 40 kWh units and recover the Top Spot from the i3? My guess is that it will be a disputed race until the last days of December;

- The race for Third Place seems balanced, with only 45 units separating the new Third Placed Audi A3 e-Tron from the #5 Kia Soul EV (Up from #8), but given the expected strong sprint of the Korean by year end, expect it to secure the last place in the Podium, with the A3 and Model S fighting it out to see who will win thes Fourth Place;

- Audi's wagon-on-stilts Q7 e-Tron climbed another place, to #12, with the BMW 225xe Active Tourer, doing the same, to #10;

- Good month for Mercedes, with the B250e up one place to #16, the S500e also up one to #24, the GLC350e up two positions to #26, while the recently arrived E350e joined the ranking at #35. It will be interesting to follow the career of this last model, as this is the first model to play at the Model S playground.  

The manufacturers ranking is as balanced as usual, with the top brand now being BMW, with 19% (Up 1%), followed by Volkswagen (16%) and Renault (15%, down 1%).

PlGermanyOct. YTD%'15 Pl
1
2
Renault Zoe
BMW i3 *
147
391
2.262
2.139
11
11
6
2
3
4
Audi A3 e-Tron
Tesla Model S
266
52
1.274
1.230
6
6
5
7
5
6
Kia Soul EV
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
372
169
1.229
1.142
6
6
1
3
7Volkswagen Golf GTE1261.10254
8Volkswagen Passat GTE1091.00159
9Nissan Leaf66828410
10
11
12
BMW 225xe Active Tourer
Volkswagen e-Golf
Audi Q7 e-Tron
114
78
132
742
717
697
4
4
3
20
8
24
13
14
15
Renault Twizy   e)
Mercedes C350e   e)
Volvo XC90 T8 
50
41
33
623
578
557
3
3
3
15
13
28
16Mercedes B250e
53
364214
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Volkswagen e-Up!
BMW 330e
Porsche Cayenne Plug-In
BMW X5 40e
Tesla Model X
Volvo V60 Plug-In
Mercedes GLE500e
Mercedes S500e    e)
BMW i8
Mercedes GLC350e
BMW 740e
Nissan e-NV200 / Evalia
Renault Kangoo ZE e)
Porsche Panamera PHEV
Peugeot iOn
Citroen C-Zero
Smart Fortwo ED
Citroen Berlingo EV 
Mercedes E350e
Others
42
44
36
37
38
28
28
30
8
46
42
12
10
9
19
9
2

15
6
363
328
301
281
275
237
235
222
201
163
160
131
125
119
105
93
78
45
37
156
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
 1
12
32
17
22
N/A
18
29
19
16
N/A
N/A
25
N/A
23
36
36
11
33
N/A

TOTAL
2.660
20.140
100



* - 274 Bev + 117 Rex 


e) Estimate

Source: kba.de