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Portugal passenger car registrations in 2020: ACAP data and electrified market trends

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Passenger car registrations in Portugal in 2020 (ACAP)

In Portugal, the number of new passenger car registrations fell by 35% in 2020 compared with the figures recorded in 2019.

ACAP data shows 145 417 new registrations in this segment. Against the 223 799 registered in 2019, that represents 78 382 fewer vehicles being registered.

Powertrain split and the rise of electrified cars

When broken down by powertrain type, demand increased for petrol-engined models and for electrified drivetrains.

This was the split of passenger car registrations by engine type:

  • Petrol - 44%
  • Diesel - 33%
  • Plug-in Hybrid - 8%
  • Hybrid (includes mild-hybrid) - 8%
  • Electric - 6%
  • LPG - 1%

The rise in hybrid volumes is partly explained by the broader availability of engines fitted with mild-hybrid systems, which up to the end of 2020 benefited from a significant reduction in Vehicle Tax (ISV).

Electrified registration share (2015–2020)

This was the change in the share of electrified vehicle registrations between 2015 (the year the Green Tax Reform was introduced) and 2020.

Type 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Electric 0,4% 0,4% 0,7% 1,8% 3,1% 5,4%
Conventional Hybrid 1,7% 1,5% 2,1% 3,2% 4,2% 8,2%
Plug-in Hybrid 0,3% 0,5% 1,1% 1,7% 2,8% 8,2%

It is notable to see the effect of tax incentives, and in particular the changes seen over the last two years. However, it is important to underline that the sharp turning point in 2020 is largely due to the contraction of the rest of the market.

In percentage terms, electrified passenger cars fell less steeply than other powertrains, while, as noted earlier, the wider availability of mild hybrid vehicles helped lift the volume of “conventional hybrids”.

Petrol, diesel and LPG shares over the last five years

This was the change in the volume share of petrol, diesel and LPG vehicles over the past five years.

Type 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Petrol 29,8% 32,5% 34,3% 39,3% 49,2% 44,2%
Diesel 67,5% 64,5% 60,8% 53,3% 39,9% 32,8%
LPG/Petrol 0,4% 0,5% 0,8% 0,8% 0,9% 1,0%

Model and brand performance

The Tesla Model 3 once again ranked as the electric car with the highest number of registrations in Portugal throughout 2020. It finished ahead by a few dozen units of the runner-up, the Renault ZOE, which this year swapped places with the Nissan Leaf.

TOP 5 100% electric (models):

  • Tesla Model 3
  • Renault ZOE
  • Nissan Leaf
  • Hyundai Kauai
  • Peugeot e-208

Looking at how car manufacturers performed, these were the five brands with the highest number of registrations in the two most important categories.

TOP 5 plug-in hybrids (brands):

  • Mercedes-Benz
  • BMW
  • Volvo
  • Peugeot
  • Porsche

TOP 5 100% electric (brands):

  • Tesla
  • Renault
  • Nissan
  • Peugeot
  • Hyundai

Source: ACAP.


See Fleet Magazine for more articles on the automotive market.

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