Peugeot 208 on 1 in the Netherlands and Europe

The current, second generation of the Peugeot 208 was presented in 2019. In its first full year on the market, it finished in tenth place in the sales rankings in the Netherlands, in 2021 in 7th place. In 2022, it suddenly pushed through to first place, well ahead of the Kia Niro, which in recent years was the public favorite applies in the Netherlands. Up to and including November, the compact Peugeot 9.101 managed to attract buyers, compared to more than 6,600 for the Niro. This makes 2022 most likely the best year for the 208 ever, after or with 2013. The market share? 3.22 percent in 2022, against 1.89 percent in 2021 and 1.95 in 2020.

The Peugeot 208 is also looking great in the rest of Europe. In 2021, he still had to settle for a number 2 position in our continent, after the Volkswagen Golf. However, the Stellantis product is now also heading for first place on this scale, with a healthy lead over number 2. Up to and including November, Peugeot sold 10.5 percent more 208s than in 2021, Automotive News Europe reports to the data from Dataforce.

The success of choice

Although somewhat unexpected, the Dutch success of the 208 in particular is not inexplicable. The Peugeot 208 meets perhaps the most important condition for success in our country: it is available with combustion engines and with a fully electric drive. The Kia Niro and Volvo XC40 have proven for years that this is almost a guarantee of success. The 208 adds something important to that, because it is a lot cheaper than those other sales bangers. The electric e-208 is even one of the most affordable EVs on the market and that, undoubtedly in combination with its nice appearance, makes it irresistible to many buyers.

The Dutch importer confirms that feeling and adds that the 208 is very popular with private EV buyers precisely because of its relative affordability. The fully electric e-208 therefore makes a major contribution to the success of the 208 and now accounts for about 60 percent of sales in the Netherlands. The popularity of this version also explains why the 208 is doing so well this year, because according to the importer, the e-208 only ‘really broke through’ this year. The government subsidy for electric cars, but also favorable private lease options, are specifically indicated by Peugeot Netherlands as important reasons for that success, in addition, of course, to the good qualities that it attributes to the car itself.

Delivery times

Due to the worldwide shortages of parts, personnel and transport, the delivery time of the electric Peugeot 208 in particular has now increased considerably. Here in the editors there is even a case of someone who has been waiting for such a car for a year. That case is no exception. Unfortunately, Stellantis Netherlands does not see this situation improving for the time being: “Demand for the e-208 exceeds supply to such an extent that delivery times have now increased considerably. We do everything we can to limit the delivery time, but the popularity of the e-208 remains high. With the government subsidy becoming available again on 1 January, this is expected to remain the case for the time being.” This also means that Peugeot could have sold even more 208s if it had been able to supply those cars. With the regular 208 with combustion engine, this problem is less of an issue and the delivery time is also considerably shorter.

An updated version of the electric Peugeot 208 has now been presented, which has promising specifications with lower consumption, a slightly larger battery and more than 400 kilometers of range. However, it will be some time before we can admire this version in the Netherlands, because the delivery problem is of course not solved with the new version. People who are already waiting for an e-208 can convert their order to the new version, says Peugeot. The condition is that a GT version was ordered, because the updated e-208 is currently only available as a GT.

Corsa

The Peugeot 208 is not alone, but has a technical brother in the form of the Opel Corsa. The Corsa seems to move from place 8 (2021) to place 4 in the Netherlands this year and ends in Europe, it looks like, in sixth place. This car is also available as an EV, the Opel Corsa-e. However, do not count on a considerably shorter delivery time by going for the Corsa: according to Stellantis Netherlands, there are (also) no significant differences between the two in that area.