by Chinese BYD outsold Tesla in electric vehicle sales in Europe
In April 2025, the Chinese manufacturer BYD surpassed Tesla in electric vehicle sales volumes in Europe for the first time. Data from Jato shows that BYD sold 7,231 vehicles, while Tesla sold 7,165 units. Although the difference is small, the sales trend looks concerning for the American brand.
BYD’s sales grew by 169% compared to April 2024, while Tesla recorded a 49% decline. The Chinese company recently introduced the Dolphin Surf model in Europe at a price of less than €23,000, which could further strengthen its position. Meanwhile, Tesla, despite the updated Model Y, continues to lose market share.
The overall electric vehicle market picture
Total car sales in Europe increased by only 0.1%, but the electric vehicle market grew by 28%, reaching 184,300 units. Plug-in hybrids also showed a 31% increase. Chinese brands overall increased sales by 121%, while Western brands owned by Chinese companies (e.g., Volvo, Polestar, MG) lost 15%.
Among conventional cars, the Renault Clio became the leader with 18,997 units sold, surpassing the Dacia Sandero. Volkswagen Group remains the largest manufacturer in Europe with 294,600 cars sold, despite a 29% drop in Golf sales.
It is worth noting that the success of BYD and other Chinese brands could shift the balance of power in the European automotive industry. At the same time, traditional manufacturers such as Volkswagen and BMW continue to hold significant market shares thanks to new electric models. For example, the Skoda Elroq became the most popular electric vehicle in April, while the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.7 also showed significant growth.
