The Association des Constructeurs Européens d’Automobiles (ACEA) report on the European car sales statistics in 2024 shows an overall sales of 10.6 million units, a modest growth of 0.8% from 2023. Interestingly, sales declined in some countries like France by -3.2%, Germany by -1%, while Spain saw a substantial growth of 7.1%.
When looking at the sales distribution by vehicle type, gasoline cars still dominate with 33%, followed closely by Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) at 30.9% and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) at 13.6%. Of note is the decreasing trend in pure electric vehicle (BEV) sales in several countries like Germany and France, shifting towards a growing market for Hybrid Electric Vehicles (both HEV and PHEV).
As for sales by manufacturer, Volkswagen Group remains at the top with 2.84 million units, growing by 3.2%, followed by Stellantis at 1.74 million units, decreasing by 7.2%, and Renault Group at 1.17 million units, growing by 1.9%.
Notable changes in sales volume for specific brands include:
– Toyota +17.5%
– Volvo Cars +28%
– Suzuki +12%
– Tesla -13.1%
– Ford -13.7%
The decline in Tesla’s sales is a topic of interest, with data from Argus Media indicating a significant 41% drop in sales in Germany, where Gigafactory is located, exceeding the average BEV market decline of 27%. Moreover, Tesla’s sales have dropped in key European markets like France and Italy, although there have been slight increases in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. This decline is attributed to the lack of product updates from Tesla since the introduction of the Model Y in 2021, with potential for newer models to reverse the trend. Intense competition from other BEV manufacturers in both Europe and China also plays a role.
The involvement of Elon Musk in European politics has impacted Tesla sales, with several European companies announcing the switch from Tesla to other EV brands due to dissatisfaction with Musk’s political affiliations. A recent protest projected images critical of Musk onto Tesla’s Gigafactory walls in Berlin, drawing attention to his support for far-right ideologies.
In an interview, Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller expressed the company’s focus on penetrating Tesla’s customer base, noting widespread discontent with Elon Musk. Elon Musk’s recent appearance at a rally hosted by Germany’s far-right political party AfD has further raised concerns and controversies.
TLDR: ACEA’s 2024 report on European car sales shows a slight growth, with fluctuations in sales across countries and vehicle types. Tesla’s sales decline in Germany and other markets is linked to product updates and competitive pressures. Elon Musk’s political associations are impacting Tesla’s sales and public perception, leading to potential market shifts.
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