Key Points
- BYD surpassed Tesla in European BEV registrations in April, with 7,231 vs. Tesla’s 7,165.
- Tesla’s BEV sales dropped 49%, while BYD’s rose 169% year-over-year. Tesla saw steep registration declines in key EU markets, including France, UK, and Germany.
- BYD plans to build a factory in Hungary and launch its Dolphin Surf EV in Europe for $26,000.
- BEVs and PHEVs comprise 26% of all new European car registrations — a new market record.
China’s electric vehicle giant BYD has overtaken Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in Europe for the first time, signaling a major shift in the continent’s fast-growing EV market. According to research firm JATO Dynamics data, BYD registered 7,231 BEVs in April, edging out Tesla’s 7,165 registrations. While the margin was narrow, the growth trends were stark — Tesla’s BEV registrations dropped 49% year-over-year, while BYD’s surged by a massive 169%.
JATO analyst Felipe Munoz called it a “watershed moment” for Europe’s car market. “Tesla has led the European BEV market for years, while BYD only officially expanded beyond Norway and the Netherlands in late 2022,” Munoz noted.
Tesla’s decline is visible across key European markets. In April, Tesla registrations plummeted in France (–59%), Denmark (–67%), Sweden (–81%), the UK (–62%), and Germany (–46%). These sharp drops coincide with growing dissatisfaction among some customers following Elon Musk’s political engagements and right-leaning rhetoric, which may be turning off certain European buyers. Musk admitted the company’s European struggles at the Qatar Economic Forum, saying, “Europe is our weakest market.”
In contrast, BYD’s EVs and hybrids are rapidly gaining traction, even with the European Union’s 10% base tariff and 17% additional duty on Chinese BEVs. BYD is already planning a strategic response: a new factory in Hungary, which would reduce tariff exposure and support regional expansion. The company also plans to launch its popular Dolphin Surf EV in Europe, starting at just $26,000, a highly competitive price point. BYD isn’t alone in challenging Tesla’s dominance. Volkswagen, BMW, and Audi posted significant BEV sales increases in April.
Overall, BEVs and plug-in hybrids accounted for 26% of total new car registrations in Europe, a new record. BEVs alone made up 17% from 13.4% last year, underscoring the region’s accelerating shift toward electric mobility.
