Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen dominate the Dutch car market

The Tesla Model Y takes home three titles this week. After all, it was recently announced that the Tesla Model Y was the car with the most new copies registered in the Netherlands in June. In addition, the Model Y turned out to be the most popular new electric car in the first half of this year. The higher alternative to the Tesla Model 3 is now dragging its third trophy. In the first half of the year, the Tesla Model Y was not only the most popular EV, but also the most popular new passenger car in a broad sense.

In the first six months of this year, 6,671 new Tesla Model Ys were registered in the Netherlands. With the Model Y, Tesla has a market share of 3.35 percent in the first half of 2023. In second place we find the Peugeot 208, which managed to claim just under 3 percent of the registration pie with 5,990 registrations. Of those nearly 6,000 Peugeot 208s, about 60 percent was an electric e-208. The ever-popular Kia Picanto accounted for 5,254 registrations in the first six months of 2023 (market share: 2.6 percent). With the brand new facelifted version, Kia hopes to extend the success of the Picanto. In the Top 5 of most registered new passenger cars in the first half of 2023, we find the Volvo XC40 in fourth place. That car accounted for 4,992 registered copies, of which almost 71 percent had an electric powertrain. The Lynk & Co 01 – also very popular in the monthly rankings – rounds off the Top 5. 4,960 new 01s have already been registered this year (market share: 2.46 percent). The five mentioned above together accounted for almost 14 percent of all new registrations. A best performance.

Most popular new cars (first half of 2023)

A total of 201,791 new cars were registered in our country in the first half of 2023. That is no less than 48,000 more than in the first six months of last year. Last year importers ran into major backlogs due to delivery problems and obstacles at suppliers, so that difference can easily be explained.

Although Tesla was the most popular new car in the past six months, Tesla was certainly not the most popular car brand in the Netherlands during that period. That is – despite the fact that no model of the brand is in the Top 5 – namely Volkswagen. Volkswagen managed to register 18,962 new cars in our country in the first six months of this year, accounting for a market share of 9.4 percent. Kia is in second place with 16,892 registrations and a market share of more than 8 percent. In third place we find Peugeot with 12,638 registered cars (market share: 6.3 percent). Toyota is planting its flag thanks to 12,194 registered new cars in 6 percent of the Dutch car market and finishes in fourth place, followed by Renault in fifth place with 11,444 new cars registered with the RDW for a license plate (market share: 5.7 percent). The five most popular brands together accounted for nearly 36 percent of all new registrations.

Tesla Model Y: the most popular new car and therefore also the most popular new EV

Most popular car brands (first half of 2023)

Volkswagen: Polo in the lead

The Polo was by far the most popular model of brand winner Volkswagen. Of the nearly 19,000 new Volkswagens registered in our country, 3,614 were Polos. The ID4 follows with 2,248 registrations in second place, followed by the equally electric ID3, which managed to stay ahead of the Golf (1,882 units) with 1,952 registrations. The T-Roc closely follows the Golf with 1,828 newly delivered units. Veteran Up is still good for sixth place within the VW ranks with 1,765 units. The Tiguan is in seventh place with 1,744 registrations, followed by the Taigo in eight (1,398 units) and the T-Cross in ninth place (1,015 units). The Passat and Arteon are significantly lower in the ranking with successively 430 and 190 registrations.

Volkswagen Polo and the Toyota Yaris

Kia: Ceed stays ahead of EV6

Let’s look at runner-up Kia, then of course the Picanto is in second place with 5,254 units. The Kia Niro follows at a good distance with 3,317 registrations in second place. The Sportage is also still doing more than fine, the medium-sized SUV ends up in third place within the Kia family with 2,350 registered copies. The Dutch importer is also doing good business with the now somewhat aging Ceed. Of the Ceed – the ProCeed and XCeed are not included – 1,811 copies were registered and the model managed to stay one step ahead of the electric EV6 (1,415 registrations). Crossover Stonic is the last Kia of which more than 1,000 units were registered in the first half of the year (1,283 units). The ProCeed was good for 420 license plate applications, the XCeed kicked it up to 351 units. The Rio, Sorento and the electric e-Soul accounted for 335, 295 and 61 units respectively.

This facelifted Kia Picanto will be on the market later this year.

Peugeot: from small to large

The Peugeot 208 recorded almost 6,000 registrations to its name in the first half of 2023, making it by far the most popular car of the brand. The continuously popular Peugeot 2008 follows with 3,092 units in second place. The new 308 is popular, it seems. The Peugeot 308 is in third place with 1,386 registrations. The recently facelifted 3008 and 5008 follow in fourth and fifth place with 892 and 719 registrations respectively. Later this year, the 3008 will be replaced by a fully electric SUV: the e-3008. The still quite fresh 408 has already overtaken the 508 in terms of popularity. With 312 registrations, it is ahead of its big brother (123 units).

The Peugeot 208 will also receive a facelift soon.

Toyota: Twice in the lead

The Yaris Cross was the most popular new Toyota in the first half of the year with 3,082 registrations, followed by the Aygo X with 2,715 registrations. So it seems that Toyota has done a pretty smart job of giving the Aygo a successor. The familiar Yaris ends in third place with 2,231 registrations, the Corolla and C-HR finish in fourth and fifth place with 1,515 and 1,083 registrations respectively. The Corolla Cross is the first Toyota in the ranking with less than 1,000 units registered in the past six months (818 units), followed by the RAV4 with 308 units and the electric bZ4X, which stalled at 283 units. 39 copies of hydrogen car Toyota Mirai have been delivered. The Prius – the new one has yet to be delivered – was still good for 18 registered copies. The Camry (12 units), Highlander (9 units), GR86 (7 units), Land Cruiser (5 units), Hilux (1 unit) and the Supra (1 unit) play a role in the margin, not surprisingly.

The Yaris Cross is the most popular new Toyota in the Netherlands.

Renault: Pre-facelift Clio as the topper

The Renault Clio is still going very well from a sales point of view. This is evident from the fact that the Renault Clio scores best within the Renault line-up even before the facelifted variant is delivered. There were 2,403 copies on the road in the past six months. The electric Mégane E-Tech follows in second place with 2,292 registrations. The Captur closely follows that EV with 2,146 units and is in third place. Kadjar successor Austral is doing quite well with 1,449 registered copies and a fourth place, the same applies to the slick-lined Arkana, which ends in fifth position with 1,129 registrations. Within the Renault ranking, the Mégane – only available as an Estate – is the first Renault of which fewer than 1,000 units have been registered in the past six months. The electric Zoe follows at some distance from the Mégane, 454 units were registered. The Twingo and Grand Scénic (it is still there) made it to 350 and 248 copies respectively.