[Auto] Best-selling cars in Europe in 2022

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European new car registrations grew for a fourth consecutive month in November, driven by the strong performance of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). 

Registrations of all cars across 27 European markets totalled 1,010,900 units last month, according to Jato Dynamics, compared with 860,700 in November 2021, for a year-on-year increase of 17%.

BEVs performed especially well, growing 30% year-on-year to 172,600 units. They accounted for 17.1% of all cars registered during November – their second-highest monthly market share behind December 2021, when they hit 18.9%.

This was helped by a barnstorming month for Tesla, with its Model Y and Model 3 taking the top two spots for BEV registrations.

Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, said: “Despite the emergence of new rivals, November’s result shows that Tesla’s growth is accelerating, cementing its leadership in the European BEV market.”

The brand’s performance was likely boosted by its practice of batch-delivering cars, which causes it to oscillate between the top and bottom of the sales charts on a month-by-month basis. 

Despite BEVs’ continued growth, petrol remains the dominant fuel in Europe, accounting for 53% of the cars registered during November. Electrified vehicles (BEVs and plug-in hybrids) took a further 28% of the market, while diesel lagged behind with 16%. The remainder was taken up by niche powertrains, such as hydrogen fuel cells.

Although November was an especially strong month for registrations, it was not enough to mitigate the impact of slow months earlier in 2022. As of the end of November, 10,167,700 cars were registered in Europe during 2022 – a 6% shortfall year-on-year.

November's best-selling cars in Europe

1. Tesla Model Y, 19,169, +254% year-on-year

Tesla’s po[CENSORED]r crossover took the top spot in November with 19,169 sales. That represents a remarkable growth of 254% compared with November 2021, when production of the model was beginning to ramp up. The po[CENSORED]rity of the Model Y is doubtless helped by its availability: at the time of writing, Tesla claims a two-to-four-week wait for its delivery, whereas rivals are delayed by months.

2. Dacia Sandero, 18,781, +15% year-on-year

The Dacia Sandero climbed a spot compared with October, with its exceptional value for money likely resonating with buyers as the cost of living crisis hits across Europe. That it’s also a competitive supermini, with a spacious interior and decent handling, makes it an especially compelling buy.

3. Toyota Yaris, 17,320, +153% year-on-year

The fuel-efficient Yaris has been a mainstay in the top 10 this year, evidently retaining its po[CENSORED]rity four generations into its life. It’s still Toyota’s most successful and biggest-selling model in Europe, and a sporty GR performance variant continues to hold up as one of the finest hot hatches ever built.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/best-selling-cars-europe-2022