Volvo overtakes Tesla, which loses its throne for the first time in a long time

We had been seeing since last year how in the list of The best-selling electric cars in Spain Tesla dominated month after month, with the Model Y (which was the best-selling car in the world last year) and the Model 3 invariably in the top two spots. But since Volvo launched its ‘affordable’ electric SUV, it has been lurking, and this past July it achieved its goal: to be the best-selling electric car.

If we look at sales of passenger cars (electric, hybrid and gas) we are not doing badly: Increase their sales in July by 22% compared to the same month of the previous year, up to 45.313 units delivered. But the overall picture is bittersweet.

“Aid is necessary”

According to recent data from the employers’ association Anfac, the sales of electrified vehicles (electric and plug-in hybrids, including passenger cars, quadricycles, commercial and industrial vehicles and buses) have fallen by 3.7% in July. A figure that has caused the electric and plug-in hybrid market to remain stagnant at 10% of the overall market share (we are only above Italy) “and that could have fallen much further without the announcement of the MOVES until the end of the year,” said the employers’ association, which once again defends that “aid is necessary.”

Let us remember that in June the purchase aid was extended until December 31, with a budget of 1.2 billion euros but without a change that was urgently requested: to advance the amount of the aid -up to 7,000 euros- so as not to wait up to a year and a half to receive it.

Graphic: Anfac.

Regarding sales of tourism electrified, hybrid and gas vehicles increased by 22% in July, with the exception of plug-in hybrids: Pure electric vehicles have increased by 12.4%, with 3,827 units sold in the month, while plug-in hybrids have reduced their sales by 14.7%, with 4,415 new registrations. The cumulative market share of pure electric vehicles remains weak, and does not reach 5%. It remains the same as last month, at 4.7%.

Volvo EX30 wins in July

After many months without changes, Volvo’s small electric car ‘made in China’ has overtaken Tesla and the Volvo EX30 has positioned itself as the best-selling electric car in July with 356 units. We don’t see Tesla even in second placewhich is the MG4 Electric. In third and fourth place are the Model Y and Model 3, both with a decrease in sales compared to the same month last year.

The MINI Electric completes the top 5, with a good rise this past month. However, in the year-to-date, the Tesla Model 3 remains the best-selling pure electric car in Spain, followed by the Model Y.

This is very good news for Volvo, which has had problems with the software of its ‘new’ SUV, affecting sales in several markets. It is already the brand’s third best-selling car so far this year globally, only behind the XC60 and the XC40 with more than 11,000 units sold.

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