Car sales September 2024: slight recovery with a growth of 6.3%

Registrations of new cars managed to grow by 6.3% in September, until 73,144 units. After a bad August, there has been an improvement in the individual channel that has managed to boost the whole. In the cumulative total of the year, 744,698 units have been registered, which represents an increase of 4.7% compared to what was achieved a year earlier at this time. Of course, when we look back, specifically at 2019 (before the pandemic), almost a quarter of the then market remains to be recovered, specifically 23%.

We already told you that it was the private market that has boosted sales figures. It had a notable improvement last month, rising 10.5%, to 36,639 units. Sales to rental companies were also good, registering 4,773 new passenger cars (+34.4%). Sales aimed at companies are somewhat slower. With 31,732 units, they fell 1.1% compared to the same month in 2023 (in the cumulative case the drop reaches 9.6%).

The surprise of the month has been the boost in sales of plug-in passenger cars. They have grown 20% in September to 10,392 units, which represents 14.2% of the market. In the accumulated of the year there are already 80,225 unitsso they grew by 0.6% compared to the previous year and represent the 10.77% of the market in the year.

The average CO2 emissions of passenger cars sold in September remain at 112.8 g/km of CO2, 3.4% lower than the average emissions of new passenger cars sold in the same month of 2023. In the total year, an average of 117.3 grams of CO2 per kilometer traveled is recorded, 0.8% lower.

From ANFAC, the manufacturers’ association, they celebrate the growth and, above all, the double-digit increase of individuals: “it means that citizens continue to want to renew their old car for a new one.” They also highlight that the hybrid vehicle continues to gain market share, which “results in the increasing presence of sustainability in the purchasing decision.”

Dealers also applaud the “good tone in the individual channel” although they point out that the increase in sales is mainly due to vehicle rental companies. And the increase in electrified vehicles has a trick… because only one brand is the one that contributes the majority of sales. It is conventional hybrids that drive the market, with 40% of all registrations. From Ganvam they point out that the growth coincides “with a moment in which inflation moderates, reaching its lowest level for more than three years.” They also point out the need to implement effective incentive plans to remove the oldest and most polluting vehicles from circulation.

Best-selling brands and models

Toyota, Renault and Volkswagen were the brands that sold the most in September and a very similar list in the accumulated: Toyota, Volkswagen and Seat. The difference between the first and the second is very large (69,451 units compared to 48,574).

As for best-selling models, surprise to see the Tesla Model 3 after the Dacia Sandero (many orders were accumulated and they were all delivered last month. Good results for Renault Clio and Toyota C-HR… while the renewed Yaris Cross is picking up speed :

The accumulated data is more interesting. The Top 3 does not change, which continues to be dominated by Dacia Sandero, Toyota Corolla and Seat Ibiza. The only difference compared to last month is that the Hyundai Tucson is positioned as the best-selling SUV in Spain, overtaking the Seat Arona.