Substantially more cars sold in 2023

January 2, 2024

Volkswagen

In 2023, the Netherlands far exceeded the expectations of RAI Association, which had estimated the number of new cars at 340,000. The growth came mainly from a catch-up of deferred deliveries from 2022. Volkswagen climbs to the top spot as the most registered brand, while the Tesla Model Y is the best-selling model of the year 2023. As for fuel, electric driving made a strong advance with 30.8%, while diesel accounted for only 1.1% of the market and gasoline remained at 30.4%.

Electric cars needed to meet climate goals

The share of electric cars in total registrations last year, at 30.8 percent, was almost 7.5 percent higher than in 2022, when the share of EVs in new sales was 23.5 percent. RAI Association and BOVAG stress the importance of subsidizing and tax incentives for electric vehicles. There are particular concerns for the period after 2025, due to the lack of incentive to switch to electric driving.

Huub Dubbelman, chairman of the passenger car section at the RAI Association, says: “More clarity and displays of ambition are urgently needed. Mobility must and can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. At the same time, motoring must remain affordable.” Hence, for example, both industry associations are calling for a weight correction in Motor Vehicle Tax for electric cars starting in 2026.

Forecast 2024

For this year, RAI Association and BOVAG expect a total of 360,000 cars to be registered. For now, it remains to be seen how incentives and subsidies will affect the demand and purchase of electric cars among private and business buyers. Furthermore, economic developments play an important role.

Bert de Kroon, president BOVAG-Autodealers, points to the current recession, high interest rates and rising labor costs. “The market is normalizing, but the numbers still lag behind at 360,000. With higher costs, we are entering a different time than in recent years. There are plenty of opportunities for customers, though: stocks have been replenished, at least for the car-buying consumer there are now plenty of opportunities and without long delivery times, too.