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In the first quarter of 2025, the electric vehicle (EV) market in Europe showed robust growth, with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) sales increasing by 25% compared to the previous year. However, Tesla, a key player in the EV industry, faced some significant challenges in the region.
## Tesla's European Performance
Tesla's European market share dropped to approximately 1.2% during Q1 2025, marking its weakest position in over three years. The company's sales in Europe continued to slump, with a notable decline in countries like France, where Q1 2025 sales plummeted by 41.1% year-over-year.
## Comparisons and Competitors
Chinese automaker SAIC Motor experienced a 33.5% growth in sales, surpassing established brands and further challenging Tesla's position in Europe. The popularity of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) has also increased, capturing a significant share of the EU market and offering a cost-effective alternative to BEVs like Tesla's.
## Broader Market Trends
Despite Tesla's challenges, the overall BEV market in Europe remains strong. In May 2025, BEV sales rose by 28% compared to the previous year. Hybrid vehicles have become the dominant powertrain in Europe, capturing 35.1% of the market in the first five months of 2025.
## Top Sellers in Europe
Six VW Group models were placed inside March's BEV best-sellers table, with the Volkswagen ID.4 dropping to third place in BEV deliveries in the first quarter, behind the Tesla Model Y and the Tesla Model 3. The Model 3 jumped to second place in BEV deliveries in Europe during the first quarter, with 23,388 sales. The Tesla Model Y was Europe's best-selling BEV in the first quarter of 2025, with 30,407 registrations.
The Ford Kuga had its best performance since the third quarter of 2023, with 13,036 deliveries. The VW ID.7 enjoyed its best-ever quarter with 18,694 deliveries in the first quarter. The VW ID.3 had 6,442 registrations, a 62.3% growth year on year and a 2.6% share. The VW Golf had its highest monthly figure since June 2021.
The Skoda Kodiaq returned to the table with 6,336 deliveries and a 2.4% share. The Toyota C-HR had 9,316 sales and a 3.5% share, its highest monthly figure so far. The Ford Kuga was Europe's best-selling PHEV in March. The Audi Q6 e-tron had 5,747 deliveries, representing 2.3% of the BEV total.
The Volkswagen Tiguan had its highest number of deliveries in a single quarter, with 12,878 registrations. The BYD Seal U had 6,156 sales in March, its highest monthly total since December 2022. The Hyundai Tucson fell three places from February, with 6,639 registrations. The MG eHS reached 3,135 deliveries, up 106.8%.
In conclusion, while Tesla's European sales and market share have declined, the broader EV market in Europe continues to grow, with other brands and technologies gaining traction. The Q1 of 2025 saw a 24.2% year-on-year improvement in BEV registrations in Europe, indicating a positive outlook for the EV market in the region.
In the face of this growing electric vehicle market in Europe, Tesla's European market share dropped significantly, with a noticeable decrease in sales, particularly in countries like France. On the other hand, utilizing an alternative to BEVs, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have gained popularity, rivaling Tesla's position.
