- Sales of 100% electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars almost doubled in Europe in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019, at 228,945 units compared to 125,848 units, while the European market for all engines combined collapsed by 26.3%. As a result, their market share increased from 3% to 7.5% in one year. This is much more than in China, where the share of 100% electric and plug-in hybrid cars did not exceed 4.5% in the first quarter of 2020. And it is obviously much more than in the United States where this market share did not exceed 2.5% according to an unhealthy policy advocated at the highest level of the state.

- When we observe the evolution of this market by models, we note four important facts:

1 / The Tesla Model 3 remains the best-selling electric car in Europe, progressing slightly but just enough to supplant the Renault Zoé, second car in the ranking.

2 / The Renault Zoé almost doubled its sales in 2020, as a result of the launch of the new generation of the model last year and the growing demand for electric cars in Europe.

3 / The Peugeot 208 electric made a breakthrough in the first year of its commercialization. It already accounts for 40% of Renault Zoé's sales in Europe and has the luxury of overtaking the Nissan Leaf in the top 20.

4 / No Chinese model has yet succeeded in imposing itself on the European electric car market.

- The 17-country European car market for passenger cars fell 52.9% in March 2020 to 772,671 units. Over the quarter, the European market in 17 countries fell 27.1% to 2,761,631 units. This sharp drop recorded in March 2020 is due to the coronavirus crisis which led to the closure of factories and car dealerships in the middle of the month, and of course to the confinement of the population. This decline is the largest since World War II, as even the successive oil shocks and the 2008/2009 financial crisis had not had such an impact on European auto sales and production. The market of the 12 countries of central and eastern Europe, for its part, fell 38.1% in March 2020 to 79,291 units, and 18.6% in the quarter to 291,073 units. In total, the European market for 29 countries fell 51.9% in March 2020 to 851,962 units, and 26.3% in the quarter to 3,052,704 units. Over the year, the European market could fall by 30%.

- April 2020 will be even worse, since the closure of factories and car dealerships as well as the confinement of populations spread throughout the month. We could record a fall of around 90%.

- The manufacturers most affected in Europe during the quarter were: Ford Group (-38.1%), FCA Group (-34.3%), PSA Group (-34.2%), Renault-Nissan Group (-33, 2%), Daimler Group (-25.9%), Tata Group (-25.5%), Volkswagen Group (-19.1%), Geely Group (-19.1%), Hyundai-Kia Group (- 18.7%), BMW Group (-16.7%), Toyota Group (-9.4%).

- Tesla is the only manufacturer to post a positive score in the quarter.

- The Chinese automobile market for passenger cars decreased by 48.4% in March 2020 compared to March 2019, China is still handicapped by the coronavirus crisis, even if March marks a slight improvement compared to the previous month which had decreased by 81.7% compared to February 2019.

- Assembly factories and car dealerships in China were able to restart in March, but at a slow and gradual pace, due to the introduction of health protections and drastic social distancing that is slowing production.

- It is unclear today whether production fully meets market demand in China, or whether demand cannot be fully met due to insufficient production. In any case, production follows the pace of registrations with a drop of 49.8% in March 2020, after a drop of 82.9% in February 2020 and a drop of 28% in January 2020.

- Over the cumulative period of 3 months 2020, the Chinese passenger car market fell by 45.4% while production fell by 48.7%.

- Which brands fell the most during this first quarter of 2020 in China?

- We observe that Renault collapsed by 89% and PSA by 82%. These are the two manufacturers most affected. We also note the poor scores of FCA (-66%), GM (-62%), Honda (-50%) who see their market share decrease. The VW (-44%), Nissan (-45%), Hyundai-Kia (-47%) and Mazda (-49%) groups are seeing their market share stabilize. Chinese manufacturers, Ford, Mercedes and BMW, on the other hand, are seeing their market share increase.

- The US automobile market for passenger cars (ranking harmonized with that of other countries) decreased by 36.9% in March 2020 compared to March 2019, the United States having seen the coronavirus crisis arrive later than China and Europe .

- Over the 3-month 2020 cumulative period, the US market fell 11.1%, a much better result than those recorded in China and Europe.

- On the other hand, the month of April being catastrophic in health matters in the United States, it is likely that the US market will experience a significant fall this month, more important than that of March.

- The American administration however announces a next resumption of the activity of the assembly factories located on the American territory, which seems unrealistic, so much the pandemic is currently important on this territory and seems to be spreading. The move would likely threaten the health of many workers in the auto industry.

- The first two months of 2020 were at the same level of production as those of 2019, but March 2020 should be worse than March 2019.

- The manufacturers most affected in the first quarter of 2020 were Nissan (-29.6%), Honda (-19.2%), BMW (-17.4%), Jaguar Land Rover (-17.2%) and Volkswagen (-13.9%). American manufacturers were less affected: GM (-7.1%), Ford (-12.3%) and Chrysler (-10.4%). The manufacturers that withstood the drop in sales better were Mercedes (-4.6%), Hyundai-Kia (-5.4%) and Toyota (-8.8%). Tesla (-5.4%) is also one of the manufacturers that weathered the crisis the best.