Car sales 2023: Tesla Model Y most popular car in the Netherlands

In the last month of 2023, 26,577 new passenger cars were registered in our country. That was considerably less than the almost 31,000 units that were registered in December 2022. In any case: it brings the total number of new passenger cars that appeared on the road in the Netherlands in 2023 to 369,791 units. 2023 was a significantly better year for the car industry than 2021, although that is not surprising. The car market reached an absolute low in 2022.

Most popular car models in the Netherlands – 2023

A significant part of the growth compared to 2022 can be attributed to thousands of deliveries that were postponed in 2022 to 2023. 2023 was therefore mainly the year of catching up, but also the year of the Tesla Model Y. In 2022 the Peugeot 208 is still the most popular new car in the Netherlands, but that compact Frenchman will be dethroned with a huge blow by the Tesla Model Y. In 2023, no fewer than 13,758 new Tesla Model Ys will be registered. This gave the Model Y a market share of a generous 3.7 percent. The Peugeot 208 had to settle for third place in 2023. 9,007 units were registered, less than the 9,640 that received a Dutch license plate in 2022.

The Kia Picanto also had an exceptionally good year with 10,530 registrations in 2023. The compact Korean ends up in second place, just like in 2022. However, thousands more units were registered in 2023 than in 2022 (7,391 units). The Volvo XC40 finished in fourth place, just like a year earlier. More units of that car were also registered (8,323) than a year earlier (6,821 units). The Kia Niro – in third place in 2022 – drops to fifth position.

Most popular electric cars in the Netherlands – 2023

The fact that the Tesla Model Y was the most popular new car of 2023 means that the question of which EV was the most popular last year does not have an exciting answer. To put the popularity of the Model Y into perspective: the Model Y accounted for 12.1 percent of EV registrations, which means that almost one in eight new electric cars registered in the Netherlands in 2023 was a Tesla Model Y.

The electric variants of the Volvo XC40 together accounted for 6,342 registrations, which earned the car second place in EV sales. More than 76 percent of all Volvo XC40s registered in the Netherlands in 2023 were electric. In third place we find the electric Peugeot e-208. The electric flavors of the 208 were good for 5,584 registrations. Just under 62 percent of all Peugeot 208s delivered in the Netherlands in 2023 were therefore an e-208. Tesla is the only brand that has a second model in the EV Top 5. In fourth place we find the Tesla Model 3, of which 5,058 units were registered. The Skoda Enyaq – still the most popular EV in the Netherlands in 2022 – will have to settle for fifth place in 2023.

Volkswagen also wins

We do not find a Volkswagen ID3 or Polo in the Top 5 of most popular models. Yet Volkswagen claims the title of ‘most popular car brand of 2023’. A total of 34,958 new Volkswagens were registered, giving the brand a market share of no less than 9.5 percent. Indeed: almost one in ten newly registered passenger cars in the Netherlands was a Volkswagen last year. The Polo was the brand’s most popular model with 7,243 registrations, followed by – and that is a striking one – the Up (4,413 units. Other popular VWs were the ID4 (4,273 units), the ID3 (3,305 units), the Golf (3,011 units), the T-Roc (2,994 units), the Tiguan (2,915 units) and the Taigo (2,283 units).

Kia is breathing down Volkswagen’s neck and ends up in second place with 33,503 registrations. The ever-popular Kia Picanto ended up with a generous 10,530 units in 2023. Other popular Kias: the Niro (7,412 units), the Sportage (4,392 units), the Ceed (3,473 units), the EV6 (2,745 units) and the Stonic (2,343 units).

Toyota is at number three and, with 25,576 registrations, leaves a large gap to number two. The Yaris Cross was the most popular Toyota of 2023 with 5,874 registrations, followed by the Aygo X (5,803 units). The Yaris comes in third with 4,533 units. The Corolla (3,269 units) and Corolla Cross (2,033 units) follow next. An unimpressive 770 units of the bZ4X were registered. The Camry was only good for 20 registrations in all of 2023. Even the Highlander (28 units), the Mirai (39 units) and the Land Cruiser (57 units) did better.

BMW ends up in fourth place with more than 20,500 registered cars. The electric iX1 was the most popular BMW of 2023 with 3,424 registered copies. The i4 follows suit with 3,316 registrations. The 3-series lives up to its name and claims third place within the BMW family in the Netherlands in 2023 (2,142 copies). The 1-series (1,816 units) and the electric iX3 (1,740 units) also did well. Skoda closes the Top 5, although the brand remains only 31 cars behind BMW. The Enyaq was the brand’s most popular car (4,715 units). The Octavia follows with 4,158 copies. The Kodiaq (3,035 units) and Kamiq (2,590 units) also performed well. Fewer than 1,000 units of any Skoda model were registered last year. The least popular Skoda was the Superb, but 1,210 units were delivered.

Most popular brands in the Netherlands – 2023

Forecast 2024

RAI Association and Bovag expect that a total of 360,000 new cars will be registered this year – 2024. “The market is normalizing, but the numbers are still lagging behind at 360,000,” says Bert de Kroon, chairman of BOVAG-Autodealers. “With the higher costs, we are heading for a different time than in recent years. There are plenty of options for customers: stocks have been replenished, and there are now plenty of opportunities for car-buying consumers, and without long delivery times.