After a strong start to the year, new car registrations plummeted in December 2023: According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, 241,883 cars were registered for the first time in December. That's 23 percent, or roughly 72,000 cars, fewer than in December 2022. Worse still, the average CO2 emissions of all cars sold increased again compared to 2022: from 109.6 to 114.9 grams per kilometer, which is also due to the fact that more large cars were registered and many low-CO2 small cars were dropped from the programs.
The year-end balance still shows a plus of 7.3 percent with a total of 2.84 million new cars compared to the previous year. The majority were again registered for commercial use – the share was 67.1 percent (and thus increased by 12.4 %). The remaining 32.8 percent (-1.9 %) were registered privately. This also led to the increased CO2 numbers: German brands in particular were able to make gains in 2023 – primarily with higher positioned models: Audi saw double-digit gains (+15.7 % with 8.7 % market share), Mercedes-Benz (+13.7 % with 9.8 % market share), Porsche (+12.0 % - accounting for 1.2 % market share), and BMW (+11.2 % with 8.2 % market share). Even industry leader VW (+7.9 % with 18.2 % market share) experienced growth. Opel grew more modestly (+0.2 % with 5.1 % market share). Ford’s “retreat strategy into the fun niche and the discontinuation of the Fiesta hit hard: The Cologne automaker lost 11.2 percent compared to 2022, dropping to a market share of just 4.1 percent. This places them behind the strongest VW subsidiaries, Skoda and Seat/Cupra: The Czech brand increased its sales by 17.1 percent to achieve a 5.9 percent market share. Seat and Cupra even saw an 18.8 percent increase to now hold a 4.7 percent market share.
Chinese newcomers see significant growth
Newcomers like GWM and Nio also saw substantial growth, as did exotic brands like Lotus, which posted gains of over 150 percent. The dramatic growth at Tesla has slowed: the days when the Americans consistently posted the highest rates appear to be over. Other Chinese manufacturers, such as Geely's subsidiary LEVC (-94.2 %) or Lynk & Co (-65.4 %), faced significant challenges. But Mitsubishi (market share: 0.7 %) and DS (0.1 %) also each lost 40 percent.
SUV trend continues - with implications for consumption
One reason for the rising CO2 numbers could also be the mix of body types: SUVs grew by 10.0 % and now represent the strongest segment in the year-end balance with a 30.1% share, followed by the compact class (16.3 %, also corresponding to 10.0 % growth). Subcompact cars grew more modestly, accounting for 11.9 % and increasing by +2.6 %. Problematic for the CO2 balance: the luxury class saw the highest registration increase, with 12.9 percent growth, closely followed by sports cars at 12.7 percent. However, both segments only account for one percent market share each. Declines were recorded for mini-vans (-18.1 % / 0.7 %) and mini-cars (-2.5 % / 5.0 %).
Another reason for the increased CO2 numbers: The share of gasoline-powered cars was 34.4 percent, above the previous year's level of 32.6 percent; although the share of diesel also increased slightly, it did not rise as sharply as the overall market. Their market share fell from 17.8 to 17.1 percent. Plug-in hybrids plummeted, accounting for only 6.2 percent of all new cars, losing more than half (-51.5%) compared to 2022. Pure electric cars captured 18.4 percent of the market, growing by 11.4 percent. Liquefied petroleum gas-powered cars are essentially only available from Dacia, with 13,147 registrations, a decrease of 12.4 percent or a 0.5 percent market share. Only 1,327 new cars (-28.1%) were equipped with natural gas engines – here, only the VW Group was still active, but it is gradually phasing out these models.
What does this mean?
Electric models could not save the CO2 balance in 2023: Emissions unfortunately rose again, which is fundamentally a wrong development. It is to be hoped that a turnaround will be achieved in 2024 – which will be difficult given the discontinued E-car subsidies. Especially as small and compact cars are becoming rarer.
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