- Tesla has lost ground in Europe so far in 2025, despite the overall surge in EV sales.
- The Model Y remains the best-selling EV although its sales have been halved.
- Volkswagen is inching closer with its fully electric lineup, led by the ID.4.
Tesla’s sales in Europe are continuing their alarming decline, recording a staggering 45% drop in January and February 2025 compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the European electric vehicle market has seen a 31% surge in overall sales, with Volkswagen’s ID lineup proving to be the main benefactor of this shift.
More: Tesla Sales Fall Off A Cliff Globally, Including Germany, Australia, And China
To break it down, according to Auto News, which used Dataforce’s preliminary figures covering 99% of sales in the European Union, EFTA markets, and the UK, Tesla managed to sell just 25,852 vehicles in the first two months of 2025. This marks a sharp decline from the 46,584 units delivered during the same period in 2024.
The Model Y still holds the title of best-selling EV, with 14,773 units sold year-to-date, though that’s a significant 53% drop from last year’s numbers. It’s worth mentioning that the updated version of the Model Y has just launched, so its impact on the sales figures might take some time to materialize.
Tesla’s Decline and Volkswagen’s Rise
The Model 3 sedan occupies the 6th spot on the sales chart, with 10,785 units sold, down by 26% from 2024. As for the Model S and Model X, they’re practically ghost cars at this point in Europe, with a combined 272 units sold in January and February 2025 (128 and 144, respectively). That’s not exactly the sort of performance that gets investors excited.
More: T-Online Pulls Tesla Survey After 253,000 Votes Cast From Just 2 IPs In The US
So, what’s behind this dramatic fall in Tesla’s European fortunes? Well, beyond the replacement of the Model Y, the shift in sentiment appears to be closely tied to the waning appeal of CEO Elon Musk. Public backlash, fueled by the infamous salute, his political entanglements, and his ties to former US President Donald Trump—who recently imposed additional tariffs on European imports—could be driving European buyers away.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen has been feasting on Tesla’s misfortune, with its EV sales soaring by an impressive 182% in February 2025. The ID.4, with 13,312 units sold in the first two months of 2025, holds the second spot in European EV sales, closing in on the Model Y with a massive 172% year-on-year gain.
More: Even Toyota Sold More EVs Than Tesla In Norway As Musk’s Brand Tanks 45%
The VW ID.7, with 11,303 units sold, secured third place, outpacing the Model 3 for the time being. Volkswagen’s ID.3 hatchback isn’t far behind, landing in 5th place with 10,837 sales, marking a 141% increase compared to last year.
A Shifting Market Landscape
The list of Europe’s top 10 best-selling EVs also features two new entries: the Renault 5 E-Tech (8th place, with 9,812 sales) and the Citroen e-C3 (10th place, with 8,142 sales). Other notable models that appear in the top 10 include the Kia EV3 (4th), the Skoda Enyaq iV (7th), and the BMW iX1 (9th).
The official ACEA sales numbers for the same period are expected to be published next week.
