In a notable shift within the European electric vehicle (EV) market, BMW has overtaken Tesla for the first time. The German automaker delivered 14,869 new electric vehicles across Europe in July, surpassing Tesla by 308 units.
Tesla faced a downturn in the European market during July, with registrations of its Model Y SUV dropping by 16% to 9,544 units, while the Model 3 sedan saw a 17% decline to 4,694 units.
Overall, electric vehicle sales in Europe decreased by 6% compared to the same period last year. Market analyst Jato Dynamics attributed this decline to reduced government incentives and concerns among buyers about the resale value of EVs.
Despite these challenges, Tesla’s Model Y remained the top-selling EV in Europe last month. It was followed by the Volvo EX30, which recorded 6,573 sales, and the Volkswagen ID.4, with 5,295 units sold. In contrast to the EV segment’s decline, the broader European automotive market experienced a 2% growth compared to July 2023, reaching a total of 1.03 million vehicles sold. Of these, SUVs accounted for 54% of sales.
Felipe Munoz, an analyst at Jato Dynamics, noted that European consumers now have a wider array of choices, with SUVs becoming a more comfortable and appealing option. The increasing availability of affordable SUV models is encouraging buyers to transition from traditional segments to this growing market.
The best-selling vehicle across all segments in Europe last month was the Dacia Sandero, with 22,398 units sold. It was followed by the Volkswagen T-Roc, which moved 19,254 units, and the Toyota Yaris Cross, with 17,314 sales. The Ford Puma, which was the UK’s top seller in 2023, fell to 20th place in Europe, with a 25% year-on-year drop in registrations, totaling 10,342 units.
