2024 (July): New passenger vehicle registrations in Europe (EU, EFTA, UK) increased by 1.5% but BEV battery-electric car sales were lower.
Car sales in Europe increased by a moderate 1.5% in July 2024. Electric car sales contracted by 6% for a market share of only 13.5% of the total European new car market. The Volkswagen Group remained Europe’s largest car manufacturer. VW was again the best-selling car brand in Europe but lost market share to Toyota and BMW. The Dacia Sandero was Europe’s favorite electric car model in July 2024 while the Tesla Model Y was the top-selling battery-electric car model despite weaker sales.
Latest European Car Market Statistics 2024: January, February, March, April, May, June, July; 2023: By Country, Brands, Models, Electric Models.
European New Car Market in 2024 (July)
In July 2024, new passenger vehicle registrations in Europe (EU, EFTA, and the UK) increased by 1.5% 2% to 1.03 million cars compared to 1.02 million sold in July 2023.
Car sales increased sharply in Poland (+19%), Portugal (+27%), and Slovakia (+12%), while the new car markets also expanded in the UK (+3%), Italy (+5%), and Spain (+5%). In contrast, new vehicle registrations decreased in Germany (-2%), France (-2%), Belgium (-7%), the Netherlands (-4%), and Ireland (-5%).
Best-Selling Car Brands in Europe in July 2024
According to JATO Dynamics, the top-selling car marques in Europe in July 2024 were:
Despite weaker sales, Volkswagen remained the largest carmaker in Europe in July 2024. Among the larger brands, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, and Peugeot made strong growth. Several brands, including Ford, Fiat, Mini, and Tesla had sales sharply down.
Increased SUV Sales in Europe in July 2024
The popularity of SUV sales in Europe continued unabated. In July 2024, SUVs accounted for 54% of all new vehicle registrations in Europe – a new record for the segment. Last month, 554,000 new SUVs were registered, an increase of 6% from July 2023. As a result, the year-to-date volume of SUVs reached 4.2 million units, an increase of 5%.
While Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, and Geely Group drove growth in the SUV segment, the Volkswagen Group remained the largest producer of SUVs for the European market. 26% of SUVs registered in Europe in July 2024 were Volkswagen Group vehicles, followed by Hyundai-Kia with 12% and Stellantis with 11.5%.
C-SUVs (compact models) saw the most demand, registering 210,600 units – a rise of 3%. Growth in the segment was also driven by B-SUVs (small models) with a volume increase of 14% to 204,300 cars. E-SUVs (large models) registered 27,600 vehicles (+23%) and F-SUVs (luxury models) registered 5,022 units (+32%). The demand of D-SUVs (midsize SUVs) fell by 7% in July 2024, recording 106,500 units.
Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics, commented: “Consumers in Europe now have access to more choice than ever before, and SUVs are a more comfortable and desirable option for many. This alongside the increasing availability of affordable models is helping consumers to make the switch from traditional segments to SUVs.”
Lower Electric Car Sales in Europe in July 2024
In Europe, the demand for electric vehicles fell in July 2024, with market share decreasing from 14.6% in July 2023 to 13.5% last month. According to JATO’s data, 139,300 new electric cars were registered last month, down 6% from July 2023. Munoz, said: “The lack of clarity around the incentives for – and future of – EVs continues to present a barrier to consumers considering an EV. These factors, alongside the low residual value of EVs contributed to the decline seen in July.”
In July 2024, BMW was the top-selling electric car brand in Europe with a 35% year-on-year increase in BEV sales. In contrast, Tesla recorded a 16% year-on-year decline. While the Tesla Model Y and 3 both continue to dominate the year-to-date BEV ranking, both Tesla models recently lost ground.
Best-Selling PHEV and Electric Car Models in Europe in 2024 (July)
The top-selling PHEV and electric car models in Europe in July 2024 were:
The Tesla Model Y remained the best-selling electric car in Europe in July 2024 although sales were sharply down. Other older models, including the VW ID 4, Tesla Model 3, Skoda Enyaq, and MG4 also had weaker sales while newer models attracted buyers.
The Model Y is no longer Europe’s best-selling vehicle — it was only 24th overall in July 2024 and sales are down nearly a quarter year-to-date 2024. The new Volvo EX30 and BMW’s latest models — including the iX1, i4, and i5 — performed well in July, while the new iX2 registered more than 1,300 units. Registrations of BMW’s electric models clearly ouptaced its Mercedes and Audi counterparts.
Top 25 Best-Selling Car Models in Europe in July 2024
The 25 best-selling car models in Europe in July 2024 according to JATO were:
Europe’s Favorite Car Models in July 2024
The Dacia Sandero was again the most popular car model in Europe in July 2024. Sales increased by more than a third to 22,400 cars. This is over 3,000 vehicles more than the second best-selling car, the Volkswagen T-Roc (introduced in 2017). The 10 best-performing cars in July were five SUVs and five hatchbacks.
The Volkswagen T-Cross, Toyota C-HR, BMW X1, Peugeot 3008, Skoda Kamiq, Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, Kia Niro, Jeep Avenger, and Mercedes GLC also sold well in July. On the other end of the spectrum, car models with weaker sales in Europe in July 2024 included the Ford Puma; Tesla Model Y; Fiat Panda; Audi A3; Fiat/Abarth 500; Mini Hatch; Opel/Vauxhall Mokka; Kia Picanto, Volkswagen ID.4; Mercedes C-Class; and Skoda Enyaq.
Year-to-date 204, the three top-selling car models in Europe were the Dacia Sandero, Volkswagen Golf, and VW T-Roc.
Europe Car Sales Statistics
→ Latest European Car Sales Statistics
- 2024: January, February, March, April, May, June, July
- 2024 (Half Year): Car Sales by European Country, Top Brands, Top 25 Models
- Full-Year 2023: Car Sales by Country, Brands, Top 50 Models, Top 20 Electric Car Models
