Car sales May 2024: plug-in vehicles continue to decline

Registrations in May 2024 have reached 95,158 units. The psychological threshold of 100,000 units is not exceeded, but it does represent an increase in +3.4% compared to May 2023. The boost comes from the rental car side, which has renewed its fleets for the summer campaign.

If we look at the cumulative figure for the year, in the first five months, the market has grown by 6.8%, with 431,884new cars sold. Despite everything, the market remains 23% below the volumes of 2019, before the pandemic. The decarbonization of the mobile fleet is slow, since in the total of the year, an average of 117.8 g CO₂ per km journey, 0.78% lower.

Much of this is due to the fact that electrified sales are stagnating. In May there were hardly any 9,180 electrified cars (electric and plug-in hybrids) which represents a drop of -11.9% compared to May 2023. In the total for the year, the market grows 3.5%, with 45,154 units, which represents 10.45% of the total market (in 2023 at this point it was 10.79%). Registrations of non-plug-in hybrids continue to increase (+26% cumulatively) and, curiously, LPG (+40.5% in this period).

It is striking that pure electric vehicles barely have a share of 4.48% in the year's total, plug-in hybrids slightly more, 5%. Measures must be taken if we want to move forward in this direction.

From ANFAC, the manufacturers' association, they point out their concern about the slowdown of the market: “It is growing, but only by 3.4%” And more worrying is the stagnation of plug-in vehicles: “The noise against the electric vehicle does not benefit sales… The sector does not stop launching models with plugs to the market, but alone we cannot push the cart any further. Greater involvement and speed from the administration would be necessary.

The dealers point out that there is a stable market with the individual channel and that “the business channel still shows no signs of recovery compared to last year's figures. They see the summer with optimism, since “the commercial activity of dealers is usually better.” And they ask attention to the plan Renew your Vehicle in Galicia: Since January, vehicle sales in Galicia have grown at double the speed compared to those in Spain. At Ganvam they see approaching 100,000 units as positive, but they are also concerned about the “weakness of business investment, which has a clear impact on the speed of electrification of the park” and they ask for “stability and adequate incentives to stimulate investments.”

Best-selling brands and models

The three preferred brands in the Spanish market were Toyota, Hyundai and Peugeot, with Volkswagen just 9 units off the podium. As for the year's total, it is Toyota, Seat and Volkswagen that rule, leaving Peugeot and Hyundai with honey on their lips.

The best-selling models in April were the Citroën C3 (the new one can now be reserved) and the Peugeot 2008, which is gaining momentum with the new mild hybrid mechanics. In third position, the usual Dacia Sandero, which is always among the favorites.

As always, the accumulated sales are more interesting. In this case, the best-selling model so far this year is the Dacia Sandero, followed on this occasion by the Toyota Corolla and the Seat Ibiza.