+50% of cars registered in the Belux in Q1 2024 are electrified

For the first time in the Belux, more electrified vehicles (BEV, PHEV, and HEV) were registered in the first quarter of 2024 than cars with only a combustion engine (ICE).

According to the data of the importers federation, Febiac, 135,140 cars were registered in Q1 2024, the best result since 2020. 52.8% of them were electrified. By electrified, we mean battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid vehicles (HEVs).

The total number of cars with only an internal combustion engine (ICE) fell back to 47.2%. This is largely due to the continuing regression of diesel cars, which now represent only 5.5% (-3.3%)of the total market. Petrol cars are still the largest group, 40.9% (-1,3%).

The second-largest group is already the fully electrified cars or BEVs, with 23% (+3.4%) of the total market, followed by PHEVs (20.4%, -0.7%) and HEVs (9.4%, +1.7%).

More balanced market

The part of the market occupied by individual buyers increased again after a long period of decrease. While the percentage was 42.6% in 2019, it decreased to 31.2% at the end of 2023. Now, it has risen again to 38.1% for Q1, 2024.

Individual buyers clearly bought more cars in the first quarter, including much more EVs.  the governmental premium of €5,000 for EVs under €40,000 has certainly played a role here.

However, the EV market is different in Flanders and Brussels compared to the Walloon part of the country. Registrations of EVs by individual buyers in Flanders have increased by 150.4% (1,521 to 3,808), while this increase was far less spectacular in Wallonia and Brussels.

When one also takes the professional market into account, the total increase of EVs in Flanders is still spectacular (+54.9%) and in Brussels (+58,4%) but stagnates in Wallonia. The biggest reason for this is that there are far less leasing firms based in the Walloon region.

Tesla Model Y is the most popular model

The Model Y was Belgium’s most popular car in the first quarter of 2024, with 4,769 units registered. The Volvo XC40, the BMW X1, the Dacia Sandero, and the Audi A3 followed it. Also in the top ten: Citroën C3, Audi Q3, Toyota Yaris, Peugeot 308, and VW Golf.

When looking at the different regions, we see that the Tesla Model Y is number one in Flanders, followed by the Volvo XC40, BMW X1, Audi A3, and VW Golf. In Brussels, the XC40 is number one, followed by BMW X1, Audi A3, Audi Q3, and Peugeot 308. In Wallonia, it is Dacia Sandero and Dacia Duster as number one and two, followed by the Toyota Yaris, Citroën C3, and Renault Clio.

Finally, the BMW X1 is most popular where company cars are concerned, follwed by the Volvo XC40, the Tesla Model Y, the Audi A3, and the Audi Q3. Individual buers prefer two Dacia models at the top, the Sandero and the Duster, followed by Citroën C3,  the Tesla Model Y, and the Toyota Yaris.