A narrow lead, but a big shift
For the first time, Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD outsold Tesla in Europe, signaling a dramatic shift in the region’s EV landscape. According to new data from JATO Dynamics, BYD sold 7,231 fully electric vehicles across 28 European countries in April, edging out Tesla by just 66 units. But analysts say the significance goes far beyond the numbers.
“It’s a watershed moment for Europe’s car market,” said Felipe Munoz, an analyst at JATO. European consumers appear increasingly open to Chinese-made EVs, drawn by their lower prices, even after the European Union imposed tariffs last year to shield domestic automakers.
Tesla loses ground in a key market
Tesla’s once-dominant position in Europe is faltering. The company’s EV sales dropped a steep 49% compared to April of last year, falling to 11th place for the month. Just a year ago, Tesla ranked second in quarterly EV sales, behind Germany’s Volkswagen. Now, it’s struggling in major markets like Germany and the U.K., where April sales hit two-year lows.
Tesla began selling in Europe more than a decade ago and opened its Berlin Gigafactory in 2022. But recent political backlash tied to CEO Elon Musk, who has poured millions into supporting President Trump and taken a controversial advisory role in Washington, may be accelerating the brand’s decline abroad.
BYD’s rapid expansion continues
BYD, short for “Build Your Dreams,” has aggressively scaled up its European operations. It started selling in Norway and the Netherlands in 2022 and is now building factories in Hungary and Turkey. The Hungarian plant will help BYD avoid EU tariffs, while also serving as the automaker’s European headquarters, expected to create 2,000 jobs.
Photo by Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images
April sales tell a story of momentum: BYD’s electric car sales surged 170% year-over-year. If you include its plug-in hybrids, sales grew more than 300%, surpassing brands like Fiat, Dacia, and Seat in some key countries.
Volkswagen still leads — for now
Despite BYD’s gains and Tesla’s slide, Europe’s top EV seller last month was Volkswagen, which notched over 23,500 new electric car registrations. That figure represents a nearly 60% year-over-year increase — proof that local brands still carry weight, even as global competition intensifies.
Volkswagen
But the trend lines are clear. BYD’s swift ascent in Europe, in the face of trade restrictions and growing geopolitical tensions, signals that Chinese automakers are here to stay and may soon reshape the European auto industry as we know it.
Final thoughts
BYD’s narrow victory over Tesla last month may seem like a statistical blip, but it reflects deeper undercurrents in Europe’s rapidly evolving EV market. With competitive pricing, expanding local operations, and a broader lineup that includes hybrids, BYD is positioning itself as a long-term player on the continent. Meanwhile, Tesla faces not only growing competition but also reputational headwinds that could further erode its foothold.
As Chinese automakers grow more entrenched in Europe and legacy brands like Volkswagen fight to maintain dominance, the region’s EV race is no longer a two-player contest.
