France: The Dacia Spring doubles Tesla as sales plummet

Despite the absence of ecological bonus, the Dacia Spring once again becomes the best-selling electric car in France in January 2024, surpassing Tesla.

This is the great enigma of the moment: how can the Dacia Spring, after leaving the Romanian manufacturer’s catalog before reappearing, still be at the top of electric car sales in 2024?

In its first month without any ecological bonus, the Spring continues to challenge the market, with 1,937 units registered in January 2024. That’s better than Tesla with its Model 3 (1,623 cars) and Model Y (1,477 cars).

However, it’s important to consider a calendar factor: the Dacia Spring and Tesla Model 3 were largely sold before the critical date of December 15, 2023, and the removal of the ecological bonus. But their delivery, and thus registration, occur a few weeks later.

Another tune in February 2024?

Now sold at 18,400 euros, when it was 15,800 euros with the bonus, the Spring remains well-positioned in the market. This is why it has reappeared. Nonetheless, the actual impact on sales will only be truly known in February 2024, once the final “bonus-eligible” deliveries have been fulfilled.

The same applies to Tesla, whose sales were artificially boosted in November 2023 with 6,000 units. As of January 2024, only about 3,000 registrations are recorded, a drop of about 50%. This trend is expected to continue since the Model 3 is no longer financially attractive. Will the Model Y be able to compensate, thanks to its price reduction as of January 17, 2024?

Will the removal of the bonus for certain foreign competitors finally allow European models to resurface? Renault Mégane, Peugeot E-2008, or other Citroën e-C4 are still very far down in the rankings…

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