Europe sales by segment: Premium EVs, PHEVs surge; compact SUV volume falls; minicar demand plunges

Sales of full-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Europe have slowed overall this year, but there is a growing divide between the premium and volume segments. 

Registrations of full-electric cars increased 0.7 percent in the first seven months and PHEV sales fell 0.7 percent, according to figures from Dataforce,

Sales of volume EVs and PHEVs fell, but sales of premium electrified vehicles are outpacing the market.   

The mainstream EV market was down by 6.9 percent and the volume PHEV sector declined by 18 percent. At the same time, premium EV sales increased by 23 percent and premium PHEVs grew 14 percent.

Because EVs and PHEVs are still in the minority, big gains or losses by a single influential model can have a huge effect on results.

For example, in the volume EV segment, sales of the top-ranked Tesla Model Y fell by 25 percent, or 36,662 units. Sales of the fourth-ranked Volkswagen ID4 were down by 32 percent, or 16,212 units.

Those two models account for a majority of the deficit versus 2023.

And sales can be volatile.

In the volume PHEV segment, only one model, the third-ranked Kia Sportage, had a single-digit gain or loss. Every other model in the top 10 swung to a double-digit gain or loss. For example the second-ranked Cupra Formentor was up by 68 percent, while the eighth-ranked Mazda CX-60 was down by 45 percent.

Buyers in premium segments are more receptive to EVs and PHEVs, data showed, but again, single models can make a difference.

Premium EV sales rose by 23 percent, led by the new Volvo EX30, which added 47,172 cars to the total. Still, the segment would have grown without the EX30.

Other key players include the second-ranked BMW iX1 (up 54 percent) and the seventh-ranked Mercedes-Benz EQB (up 46 percent).

PHEVs replace diesels

Plug-in hybrids continued to be favored by premium buyers, many of whom would have bought diesels in the past for lower fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions.

The segment was up by 14 percent, and every model in the top 10 showed strong growth. Top gainers were the eighth-ranked Mercedes E-Class (up 297 percent) and the Audi A3/S3 (up 175 percent). 

Compact SUV sales slow

Momentum for compact SUVs and crossovers, Europe's second-biggest segment regardless of powertrain, has slowed this year, with sales down 0.8 percent through July.

Most of that deficit can be attributed to two models, the Peugeot 3008, which is between generations, and the Ford Kuga. Sales of the ninth-ranked 3008 and sixth-ranked Kuga are each down by about 11 percent.

At the same time, only the second-ranked Kia Sportage has seen double-digit sales growth. Sportage sales were up 14 percent.

Small SUVs and crossovers, Europe's largest segment, grew 8.2 percent through July.

Every model in the Top 10 showed growth, led by a jump this year of 45 percent for the budget MG ZS, which sells for less than €15,000 in Spain and less than €18,000 in many other markets.

The ZS is now ranked eighth in the segment after gaining more than 19,000 sales through seven months.

Other strong sellers this year have been the Skoda Kamiq, up 16 percent, and the Peugeot 2008, up 11 percent.

Minicar segment plunges

The slowdown in EV sales has hit the minicar segment hard. The segment is down by 7.9 percent for the year, with the biggest losses in absolute terms for the eighth-ranked Fiat 500e (down 42 percent, or 14,989 units) and the ninth-ranked Dacia Spring (down 65 percent, or 21,112 units). The Spring is also subject to new EU tariffs on Chinese-built cars.