In 2025, Volkswagen overtook Tesla as Europe’s top seller of electric cars

Volkswagen surpassed Tesla in sales of fully electric cars in Europe in 2025, according to data released Thursday by JATO Dynamics, marking another setback for the US manufacturer after China’s BYD took the global lead in electric vehicles last year.

JATO said sales of Volkswagen brand battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe rose 56% last year compared to 2024, driven by strong sales of its new ID.7 model.

Tesla vehicle registrations, on the other hand, fell 27% over the same period.

Volkswagen sold 274,278 BEVs in Europe last year, while Tesla sold 236,357, according to JATO data.

Tesla’s small and aging range of vehicles faces stiff competition in Europe from both traditional European manufacturers and a growing number of Chinese rivals. The company also faced rejection from European consumers due to its CEO, Elon Musk’s, support for far-right parties on the continent.

Overall, total car registrations grew by only 2.3% in 2025, according to the data.