Dacia Sandero on track to top Tesla Model Y in tight race for Europe's No. 1

The Dacia Sandero is in position to finish November as Europe's top-seller. If so, the small hatchback will earn the honor for the second straight month and the fourth time in 11 months.

The Sandero, which registered 9.5 percent sales surge to 19,760 in November, has a solid 2,296 sale lead over its closest rival, the Tesla Model Y, which recorded a sales decline of 8.2 percent to 17,464, based on preliminary figures from market researcher Dataforce.

The Model Y's likely second-place finish in November is a big rebound after slipping out of the top 10 in October.

Throughout 2023, however, the Model Y has been a top-seller during the second month of a quarter. Taking the No. 1 slot in February, May and August.

One factor that could explain the likely end to that streak is Tesla's feud with unions and some pension funds in the Nordic region over the EV maker's refusal to accept a demand from Swedish mechanics for collective bargaining rights covering wages and other conditions.

The dispute that began in October has already upended Tesla’s operations in the region as sympathy actions from other trade unions have spread to dockworkers in neighboring Denmark, Finland and Norway. Starting this week, Tesla will have to transport its cars bound for Sweden via trucks from continental Europe.

No. 3 for the Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is poised to finish the month as Europe's No. 3-seller, helped by a 35 percent sales gain on the same month last year, according to data representing 97 percent of sales in the European Union, the EFTA countries and the U.K.

Rounding out the top five in November were the Renault Clio (+12 percent) and Volkswagen Golf (+7.1 percent).

The preliminary figures show just two sales separate the Clio and the Golf so there could be changes in the order they finished once all markets report their figures.

Another tight race is for ninth place, with the VW Tiguan ahead of the VW T-Roc by just 38 sales, based on the preliminary figures.

Other cars poised to make big sales gains in November are the Ford Puma (+25 percent), Nissan Qashqai (+26 percent) and Fiat Panda (+31 percent).

Model Y maintains overall lead

Despite the Sandero's November success the Model Y is expected to hang on to the overall sales lead after 11 months.

The Model Y leads the Sandero 229,980 to 217,244, based on the preliminary figures.

It has been common for sales of the Model Y to be at their highest during the final month of the quarter, but that trend could also be upended by the challenges Tesla faces in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

This year the Model Y has been Europe's top-seller seven times (February, March, May, June, August, September and October) while the Volkswagen T-Roc was No. 1 in July. The Sandero's other wins came in January, April and October.