Car Sales 2023 – These cars stand out positively (and negatively).

In August, exactly 27,825 new cars were registered in the Netherlands. That is 13.6 percent more than in the same month last year, but still disappointing.

In June and July, the increase was 30.7 and 38.0 percent, respectively, according to the Bovag and Rai Association. Unsurprisingly, growth appears to be slowing.

car sales in the last year

According to the two industry associations, the recent strong growth is the result of a race to catch up. The registrations come from open sales orders from the last year, which are now being processed.

Uncertainty about electric cars

According to de Bovag and Rai, not many orders are being written at the moment. Consumers are reluctant to buy electric cars in particular. This is due to the lack of clarity about the incentive measures.

What stands out: positive and negative?

Anyhow, we’ve looked at the stats for the first eight months of 2023 and unearthed a few notable cars, for better or worse.

Audi E-Tron GT

That poor Audi E-Tron GT. It’s very good, but unfortunately hardly anyone sees it. Audi has registered no more than 67 examples, while Porsche has delivered no fewer than 538 (identical under the skin) Taycans.

BMW 6 Series GT

BMW has already pulled the plug on the 6 Series GT after six years. Logical, because the strange thing is not sold by the meter, not even in the Netherlands. This year 8 were registered, last year 17.

BMW XM

Wild or not, the monstrous BMW XM appears to be outselling the X7, X6, X4 and X2, with no fewer than 121 registrations in the first eight months of this year.

Honda E

Honda really has themselves to thank for that. The E is great to drive and great fun, but doesn’t go far enough for its way too high price. Only 4 were registered this year, compared to 16 in 2022.

Hongqi E-HS9

Surprisingly, many Dutch people seem to have no problem driving around in semi-communist kitsch. Because the (somewhat too) monumental Hongqi E-HS9 was delivered no fewer than 42 times.

JACIEV7S

That what?! That’s the problem. Nobody knows what that is. Hó, correction: hardly anyone knows what this is because in 2023 the JAC importer has registered 1 so far, compared to 5 last year.

jaguar

Not a model, but a whole brand. Jaguar is promising a game changer with revolutionary electric cars, and it can’t come soon enough as the numbers are dramatic: I-Pace – 6, XE – 5, XF – 2.

Lynk & Co 01

You can see that the Dutch love an offer at Lynk & Co. The Chinese brand is offering the 01 for an amazingly low monthly amount, which has already appealed to 5822 people this year.

Mazda CX-60

Autovisie has driven the CX-60 several times. Then we noticed that the chassis isn’t great and neither is the hybrid powertrain. However, a striking number of people are not interested in this: 1099.

Tesla

Sales of the American brand rise and fall in our country depending on how many boats with cars arrive. This year is very bizarre, with 11,956 registrations currently and only 1332 in 2022.