In the European market (EU, EFTA countries and the United Kingdom), 1,015,381 cars were registered in January, 11.5% more than the same month in 2023. The data comes from Acea, the association of European manufacturers.
The Stellantis group sold 162,525 cars in January, 15% more than the same month last year, in Europe (EU, EFTA countries and the United Kingdom).
The growth is greater than that of the market (+11.5%).
The market share rose to 19.1% compared to 18.6% a year ago.
"In almost all Western European countries, demand was supported above all by the purchases of company fleets, long-term rental companies and the purchase of electric cars facilitated by generous incentives. In January, registrations of pure electric cars (BEV) were 120,926 with a growth of 29.3% on January 2023 and a market share of 11.9% which is significant, but lower than that recorded in the whole of 2023 which was 15.7%".
The Centro Studi Promotor highlights this by speaking of a "good start to 2024 for the Western European car market".
"Throughout the entire area - states president GianPrimo Quagliano - private purchases are suffering and are strongly affected by price increases. This situation explains, in part, the strong growth in long-term rental, a formula created for company fleets, which is also extending to private individuals. Long-term rental is a very attractive and convenient alternative solution to purchasing which, in addition to simplifying car management, allows, in this market phase, to dilute the strong increases in car prices over time."
The growth in January - underlines the CSP - does not affect all 31 countries in the area, but is sustained in the main five markets which absorb around 70% of registrations.
The largest is that of Germany which grew by 19.1% in January, even if the comparison is made with a 'lean' January 2023 due to negative dynamics triggered by the system of incentives for electric vehicles.
The increases of the other big four in the area are more limited.
In France, registrations grew by 9.2%, in the United Kingdom by 8.2%, in Spain by 7.3% and in Italy by 10.6%.
The share of electric vehicles in Germany is 10.5%, in France 16.4%, in the United Kingdom 14.7%, in Spain 4.9% and in Italy 2.1% against 4.2% in entire 2023. The decline in Italy is linked to the lack of incentives.
For Italy, as for Spain, which have per capita incomes lower than those of the major European countries, the high price of this type of car weighs heavily on decisions to purchase electric cars.
(HANDLE)
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