Car sales figures March 2022 show the prevalence of hybrid and plug-in electric models over diesel, but also the problems that continue to plague the sector. The war in Ukraine, on the one hand, and the lack of semiconductors, on the other, have dramatically affected the production of new cars, and while demand remains high, long delays in deliveries of new models affect overall sales.
Recall that Ukraine, although not a large market, remains an important source of spare parts for large manufacturers. Therefore, the Russian invasion of the country it has a negative impact not only on car sales, but also on their production.
Car sales in Europe, March 2022 in sharp decline
Overall registrations in Europe fell by 19% last March. Across all 27 countries, new car sales in March 2022 fell by 1,116,419 units, 33% less than in the same month of 2020 and 37% less than in March 2019, which is before the pandemic.
From the data, though, it’s worth keeping in mind the growing trend of buyers of plug-in and electric hybrid models. A total of approx 244,801 electric cars, with an increase of 10% on an annual basis, while diesel with 202,113 units decreased by 39%.
Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling car in Europe as of March 2022
In the battle for low-emission cars, electric cars accounted for 62% of sales (+ 46%) where the Tesla Model 3 takes the top spot. Plug-in hybrids saw a 22% drop in share.
The ranking of the 10 best-selling cars in Europe in March 2022, with the relative number of units sold, is as follows: