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January’s auto gross sales noticed plugin EVs at 51.6% share in Sweden, down barely YoY from 52.5% in January 2024. BEV share was fractionally up YoY, whereas PHEV share was barely down. General auto quantity was 19,632 items, up some 14% YoY. The Volkswagen ID.7 was the very best promoting BEV.
January’s gross sales totals confirmed mixed plugin EVs at 51.6% share in Sweden, with full electrics (BEVs) at 28.8% and plugin hybrids (PHEVs) at 22.7%. These figures evaluate YoY in opposition to 52.5% mixed, 28.6% BEV and 23.8% PHEV.
There was a small anomaly within the January market, with an uncommon surge for “different fuels” – at 1,678 items – over 5x their current month-to-month common. These are virtually all autos categorised at “different” solely as a result of they’re “in a position to” run on ethanol (despite the fact that they might in apply be principally run on common gasoline / petrol / benzine). Their January surge was a “final likelihood” pull-forward forward of a Swedish regulation change from February 1st which – because of the actuality of their principally being run on gasoline – now places a heavier tax burden on them. The brand new guidelines now tax them in-line with gasoline-only autos, closing a former loophole. Count on a extreme hangover for this class in February and March, and normal weak point going ahead.
Plugless hybrids (HEV and MHEVs) grew quantity by 67% YoY, their highest month-to-month quantity since 2020. These are primarily a quick-and-easy stopgap for legacy auto makers in direction of assembly tightening emissions guidelines (relative to ICE-only vehicles). Since these are successfully substituting gross sales of ICE-only vehicles, the latter declined in quantity to near-record lows. Even so, collectively, the mixed sum of HEV and ICE-only vehicles grew quantity by 4.5%, underperforming the general market’s 14% progress. Thus their mixed share fell YoY from 43.7% to 39.9%.
For plugins, regardless of their fractional fall in market share, gross sales quantity really grew decently YoY, from 9,006 items to 10,124 items. The slight drop in plugin share comes merely from not rising their quantity as a lot because the competing ethanol powertrain autos, of their anomalous pull-forward, mentioned above.
With the Europe-wide tighter automobile emission guidelines in 2025, we are able to anticipate BEVs to develop general this yr in Sweden, in addition to in different regional markets.
Finest Promoting BEVs
The Volkswagen ID.7 was Sweden’s greatest promoting BEV in January, its first time within the prime spot, with 588 items.
Second place went to the Volkswagen ID.4 with 396 items, and third went to the Tesla Mannequin Y, with 290 items.
With principally acquainted faces, the notable performances got here within the type of respectable climbs by relative newcomers, the Kia EV3, and the Cupra Tavascan. The Kia EV3, which debuted in November, retains steadily ramping, and has now reached seventh place, an excellent outcome, and now the very best rank of any Korean BEV.
The Cupra Tavascan debuted in August and has additionally steadily ramped its Swedish volumes since then, now at 170 items, and eleventh place. It is a good outcome for Cupra, although the Tavascan’s usurped sibling, the Born, is probably not so blissful, now exterior the highest 20 after beforehand rating round tenth. The SUV format of the Cupra Tavascan is (understandably) way more well-liked in Sweden and the Nordic international locations.
January noticed two debuts on the Swedish market. The brand new Opel Grandland X arrived with 29 items. It is a mid-sized (4650 mm) SUV, with a size someplace in between the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008 with which it shares its platform. It’s priced from 3,399 SEK (300€) per 30 days for leasing, for the entry 73 kWh (usable) model. I can’t discover an MSRP worth on Opel’s web site or worth listing (leasing appears to be the precedence), please chime in under when you’ve got this.
We’ve detailed the specs of the brand new Renault 5 elsewhere, and it noticed a modest 11 unit Swedish debut in January. It is probably not the most well-liked format of auto in Sweden, however for many who are searching for a small hatchback (from MSRP 349,900 SEK or €31,000), the Renault could enchantment. Let’s see the way it will get on.
December’s debutant, the Audi A6 e-tron, climbed to a good 36 items in January (and already thirty fifth spot). We are going to observe how shut it’d get to the highest 20.
Now for the 3-month perspective:
Due to the top of 2024 push, the Tesla Mannequin Y remains to be very dominant in Sweden. The refreshed mannequin will begin native deliveries in March, so January and February are inevitably going to be considerably sluggish months for Tesla’s greatest vendor. Don’t be stunned to see the Mannequin Y again on prime by the top of Q2, nevertheless.
The most important transfer within the prime 20 chart got here from the Kia EV3, which was virtually absent 3 months in the past (simply 1 unit delivered), however has shot as much as 569 items over the previous 3 months, and brought twelfth spot. We will anticipate it to maintain climbing from right here. Recall that its a lot older sibling, the Kia Niro, was a prime 5 favorite in Sweden for a number of years. If this household’s pedigree is something to go by, anticipate to see the EV3 inside the highest 10 quickly.
Additional again, as you’ll have guessed, the Cupra Tavascan remains to be climbing, having reached nineteenth based mostly on the trailing 3 month quantity. The Tavascan may doubtlessly climb above fifteenth within the coming months, let’s be careful for that.
Outlook
While the 14% progress within the auto market is a good signal for the Swedish economic system, round half of that progress is a one-off bump from the ethanol autos’ pull-forward, mentioned above. The broader GDP progress was up 1.1% YoY in This fall 2024, the very best end in two years. Inflation is now low at 1%, and rates of interest have decreased to 2.25% (serving to new automobile financing). Manufacturing PMI remained considerably constructive in January, at 52.9 factors, from 52.4 in December.
As talked about earlier, the Europe-wide emissions tightening guidelines in 2025 ought to translate to regular progress within the BEV market this yr, after notable backsliding in 2024. This progress is probably not seen till the second half of the yr, and particularly the ultimate quarter.
What are your ideas on Sweden’s auto market and the EV transition? Which fashions will do effectively this yr? Please soar into the feedback part under and share your perspective.
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