- TOTAL MARKET REGISTRATIONS FELL BY 26% YOY IN JANUARY, TO JUST 839,600 UNITS
- 24 OUT OF 27 MARKETS RECORDED DOUBLE-DIGIT DECREASES IN REGISTRATIONS
- SUVS ACCOUNTED FOR 44% OF THE TOTAL VOLUME, AN ALL-TIME RECORD IN EUROPE
25.2.2021.- 2020 was a trying year for the European automotive industry, and so far, 2021 has not proved to be much easier. According to our data for 27 markets across the region, registrations of new cars totalled 839,525 units in January 2021, down by 26% compared to the same period in 2020 – the lowest result for January since 1982. Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics commented: “Despite efforts made by governments and OEMs to boost the registration of pure electric cars, it has not been enough to offset the impact of the global pandemic and local lockdowns”.
Car dealerships across the continent also continued to feel the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. In key markets such as Germany and Spain, volume dropped by 32% and 52% respectively. January was also unlikely to meet December’s success due to the tax breaks enjoyed by customers at the end of the year. Munoz continued: “Changes to tax calculations from January 1st accelerated the demand in December, with consumers registering new vehicles ahead of these changes.”
Despite the overall negative trend, there were a few exceptions. In Sweden volume increased by 23% compared to January 2020. This came as a result of changes to Sweden’s bonus-malus taxation policy (introduced on 1st January 2020), which caused an increase in vehicle registrations in December 2019, as customers took advantage of the favourable taxation that would no longer be in place for high-emissions vehicles. In Norway, registrations increased by 8% as consumers were once again able to visit showrooms, and demand for EVs continued, fuelled by heavy incentives.
Source: JATO Dynamics
Photograph: Feria Valencia
Infographics: JATO Dynamics
