Car sales March 2024: first drop in 14 months

Car registrations in March fell 4.7% to 94,840 units. This is the first year-on-year decrease since December 2022. A figure that a priori seems bad but we must take into account that in 2023 Easter fell in April, which reduces effective sales days.

If we take into account the evolution of registrations so far in 2024, until March they grow by 3.1% compared to the first quarter of last year, with 244,879 units. In any case, they are still 22.7% lower before the pandemic in 2019.

It has been the individual and business channels that have recorded the greatest falls, of -3.9 and -27.3% respectively. Renters have resisted well due to the renewal of vehicles ahead of Easter, with 31,900 units sold in March. For its part, the average CO2 emissions of passenger cars sold in March remain at 117.7 g/km of CO2, 1.7% lower than in the
same month of 2023. In the total for the year, an average of 116.9 grams of CO2 per kilometer is recorded
journey, 1.87% lower.

From ANFAC, the manufacturers' association, they indicate that “we will have to wait until April to see if we continue on the upward path or not”, while at the same time they see the great drop in sales of electrified cars as worrying, with a quota of 10 .3% between electric and plug-in hybrids.

For their part, dealers point out that the market is stagnant, with less than a 5% increase compared to a year that was already weak. They demand that the Government help with the electrification of the park “so that we can aspire to meet the decarbonization objectives that come to us from the European Union.” From Ganvam they point out that registrations “are still around
20% below pre-pandemic levels” and demand effective policies that turn zero and low-emission mobility into a truly affordable and accessible option for everyone.

Best-selling brands and models

Toyota was the best-selling brand in March, followed by Kia and Volkswagen. There is some variation in the accumulated, because although the Japanese firm is the best seller, the second is Seat ahead of Kia.

As for the best-selling models, surprise to see the Nissan Qashqai in first position, undoubtedly due to self-registration due to the Japanese fiscal closure (hence seeing the Nissan Juke in the Top 10). Good results also for the Dacia Sandero and the Toyota Yaris.

In terms of accumulated sales, the Dacia Sandero leads, followed by the Toyota Corolla and the push of the Qashqai is noticeable this last month, which overtakes the Hyundai Tucson as the best-selling compact SUV of the year.