Electric SUV/ E-crossover dominate Europe in Q1/2022

Electric SUV/ E-crossover dominate Europe in Q1/2022

At the end of the first quarter of 2022, the share of electric SUVs and crossovers sold remains above 50 per cent.

A detailed look shows that this segment accounted for exactly 51.2 per cent of all-electric vehicles sold. Automotive analyst Matthias Schmidt assumes that this will not change in 2022 as a whole.

E-SUVs and electric crossovers will see an increase in sales in 2022, after a slight decline at the end of 2021. Among other things, pushed by the Tesla Model Y, which has been on Europe's roads since mid-March from Giga Berlin. However, the ramp-up of series production there will start more slowly than one might have initially suspected. Those who have been following electric car news and thus the analyses of automotive analyst Matthias Schmidt for some time know: That e-SUVs dominate the European passenger car market. Almost unbroken. Schmidt assumes that especially the Korean manufacturers Hyundai and KIA are contributing their share to the growth of the segment. The Korean OEMs seem to be coping with the ongoing semiconductor shortage better than many other companies. The SUV/crossover sector now comprises over 35 models, the most of any sector, with major new entries from Toyota (bZ4X), Renault (MEGANE E-TECH Electric) and Nissan (ARIYA) all launching this year.

There was a slump in the basic segment. This was because the VW e-Up! is no longer offered. Here, a direct comparison with the previous year shows that the VW model suffered an 80 per cent decline in the market. It was replaced by the Dacia Spring. It should be noted, however, that this model is only sold in markets where the subsidies for electric vehicles are above 6,000 euros. If these subsidies are abolished, a significant decline in registration figures is to be expected. The small car segment seems to be stabilising.

The most concentrated sector, consisting of three models (Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4), saw volumes rise to their highest monthly share since September 2021, with a pick-up in Tesla Model 3 sales already seen in February. Prices of the new BMW i4 start at €59,200 in Germany before subsidies - although production has had to pause in the meantime. Xpeng is also likely to enter the sector with its P5 in 2022. Which should give it a further boost. Polestar volumes are likely to be boosted by leasing deals such as the one with Germany's ADAC.

Tesla dominated the luxury segment with its nearly decade-old Model S... However, the segment now also includes the Porsche Taycan (4,580 units) and Audi e-Tron GT (1,330 units) based on the same platform. The Mercedes EQS has also started deliveries (1,480), resulting in a combined Q1 of 7,400 vehicles or 2.1 per cent share. Tesla has noticeably lost ground here - in the luxury segment.

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