Tesla’s Downward Spiral Continues in Europe

Now surpassed in sales by BYD in Europe, Tesla is sinking in the rankings behind local manufacturers.

Tesla, once the uncontested leader in the electric vehicle market in Europe, has just suffered a significant setback: in April 2025, BYD sold more electric vehicles than the American brand for the first time on the continent. This shift marks a historic turning point, according to Jato Dynamics, which describes this event as “a pivotal moment for the European automotive market.”

Indeed, BYD, which has only been present in Europe since late 2022, registered 7,231 electric vehicles in April, recording a spectacular increase of 169% compared to the previous year. Tesla, on the other hand, sold only 7,165 units, a decline of 49%, relegating the brand to the 11th place in the best-selling EVs, just behind BYD.

Although the gap between the two is only 66 units, the impact is significant in a context where the European Union is reinforcing tariffs on vehicles imported from China. Elon Musk had recently stated that he was observing a “strong rebound” in demand following the launch of the new Model Y, but the figures show a different reality.

The Europeans are celebrating!

Meanwhile, European manufacturers are asserting themselves. Volkswagen leads with 23,514 vehicles sold (+61%), followed by BMW (14,867), Skoda (13,598), Audi (11,958), and Renault (10,328). Only Volvo and Mercedes show a decline. Skoda even places its new model, the Elroq, at the top of EV sales in April, ahead of the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.7, and ID.4.

Tesla sees its two flagship models, the Model Y and the Model 3, drop to 9th and 24th place. Notably, BYD does not place any model in the top 25, as its sales are spread across a wide range, unlike Tesla, which offers only four models (two in the UK).

Overall, EV sales in Europe surged by 28% in April, reaching a market share of 17%, compared to 13% a year earlier, far surpassing the overall growth of the automotive market (+0.1%).

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