© David Lefevre / Digital
According to monthly data published on Wednesday March 1, 2023 by the Automotive Platform (PFA), which is based on figures provided by AAA Data, 126,237 new car registrations were recorded, representing a growth of 9.4% . By way of comparison, in February 2022, registrations of new passenger cars were only 115,383. However, we remain far from the level of February 2019, the reference year before the Covid, with 172,438 registrations.
In the first two months of 2023, 238,176 new car registrations were recorded, up 9.11% compared to the same period of the previous financial year. Would the market take off again on the hats of wheels? According to Julien Billon, this increase is linked to orders made in 2022 and finally delivered to customers. He is also worried about a “level of orders down (-9% in January 2023). If this development continues, the stock awaiting roadworthiness will be depleted during the first half of 2023, and the second half will be in a difficult state”.
In terms of engines, petrol still occupies first place with 47,125 registrations (market share of 37.9%), while diesel continues its long descent into hell with 14,723 registrations (-27.4%, market share 11.7%).
In the electrification segment, hybrid or full hybrid (29,143 registrations; +25%; market share of 23%) and 100% electric (19,595 registrations; +46%, 15.3% market share ) drive this market. On the other hand, with 10,493 registrations (+8%; PDM of 8.1%), the rechargeable hybrid or PHEV has been stagnating for a few months already.
Here are the top 20 registrations of plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles (PHEV):
SALES OF NEW PASSENGER PLUG-IN HYBRID CARS IN FEBRUARY 2023
| PLUG-IN HYBRID | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BRAND | MODEL | Immat. | |
| CITROEN | C5 AIRCROSS | 653 | |
| DS | DS7 CROSSBACK | 598 | |
| MERCEDES-BENZ | GLA | 540 | |
| MERCEDES-BENZ | GLC | 534 | |
| PEUGEOT | 3008 | 528 | |
| DS | DS4 | 468 | |
| HYUNDAI | TUCSON | 362 | |
| KIA | SPORTING | 334 | |
| VOLVO | XC60 | 311 | |
| VOLKSWAGEN | TIGUAN | 298 | |
| PEUGEOT | 308 | 296 | |
| LYNK&CO | 1 | 268 | |
| MINI | COUNTRYMAN | 267 | |
| BMW | SERIES 3 | 235 | |
| BMW | X3 | 235 | |
| VOLVO | XC40 | 190 | |
| BMW | X1 | 189 | |
| PEUGEOT | 408 | 189 | |
| AUDI | Q5 | 166 | |
| AUDI | Q3 | 156 |
If there is a segment in which sales volumes are not in four figures, it is that of plug-in hybrids, where the Stellantis group takes the lion’s share with its Citroën, DS and Peugeot brands.
Citroën C5 Aicross 225 PHEV Shine Pack 2022
However, if last month, the Peugeot 3008, Citroën C5 Aircross and DS DS4 occupied the first three places, the situation is quite different in February. Indeed, the Germans have decided to play spoilsport, first with Mercedes which places its SUV GLA (540 copies) and GLC (534 copies) in 3rd and 4th places. As a result, the Peugeot 3008 (528 copies) paid the price for this blitz by falling from 1st to 5th position. In first place, we find the Citroën C5 Aircross (653 copies), ex-number two, followed by the DS DS7 Crossback (598 copies) which occupied 5th place last January.
The German offensive is strong with Volkswagen and its Tiguan (10th; 298 copies) followed by BMW with its 3 Series (14th; 528 copies), X3 (15th; 528 copies) and X1 (17th; 528 copies) as well as Audi with its Q5 (19th; 166 copies) and Q3 (20th; 156 copies).
Note the entry into the running of the Peugeot 408 in 20th place with 189 registrations.
In short, the year 2023 promises to be tough for the plug-in hybrid market, and the fight between the French and the Germans should be intense…