Passenger car registrations in Europe dipped by 1.7% year-on-year in November, with 1,054,043 units recorded across 28 European markets, according to data from JATO Dynamics. Despite the decline, year-to-date registrations reached 11,847,573 units, reflecting a modest 0.8% increase compared to the same period last year.
Market Leaders and Shifts
Europe’s top five automakers—Volkswagen Group, Stellantis, Renault Group, BMW Group, and Mercedes-Benz Group—accounted for 65% of total sales in November. Japanese carmakers followed with a 13% market share, while Korean brands secured 7.5%. U.S.-based Tesla and Ford collectively captured 5.9%, and China’s automakers climbed to 6.7%.
Renault Group (+8.6%), Toyota (+9.8%), and Geely (+16%) posted strong growth, while Stellantis, Hyundai-Kia, Ford, Tesla, and Nissan experienced double-digit drops. German stalwarts Mercedes-Benz and BMW also faced declines.
Skoda stood out among brands, climbing to third place in monthly sales thanks to robust performances from the Fabia, Enyaq, and Kodiaq models. MG and Cupra surpassed Fiat, which suffered a 39% registration drop due to the discontinuation of the gasoline-powered Fiat 500. Meanwhile, Chinese automaker BYD outsold Honda, and Xpeng registered more vehicles than Jaguar and Lancia.
BEVs Shine Amid Overall Decline
Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) registrations rose by 0.8% year-on-year in November, capturing a 17.4% market share compared to 17.0% in November 2023. Notable growth came from the UK (+58%), Netherlands (+44%), Norway (+30%), and Belgium (+17%), while demand faltered in France (-25%) and Germany (-22%).
Volkswagen Group dominated the BEV segment with a 26% share, boosted by a 16% increase in volumes. Tesla, the second-largest BEV seller, saw volumes fall by 28%, largely due to delays with its updated Model Y. Chinese automakers, including BYD (+127%), Leapmotor (+296%), and Xpeng (+93%), strengthened their foothold, collectively accounting for over 24,100 BEV registrations.
Top Models and Rising Stars
The Dacia Sandero maintained its position as Europe’s best-selling passenger car, further widening its lead over the Volkswagen Golf. Other models showing strong year-on-year growth included the Volkswagen Tiguan, Peugeot 208, Toyota Yaris, and Volkswagen T-Roc.
Among BEVs, standout performances included the Renault Captur, Toyota C-HR, Jeep Avenger, and Skoda Fabia. Chinese brands BYD, Leapmotor, and Xpeng emerged as rising stars in the electric segment.
As the year draws to a close, the European car market faces mixed dynamics: a modest overall growth in 2024 registrations alongside rising demand for electric vehicles. With BEVs gaining traction and Chinese automakers solidifying their presence, the competitive landscape is evolving rapidly.
