Tesla EU sales plunge 53% in April as Chinese electric carmakers surge, says trade group
Sales of Tesla vehicles in the European Union fell sharply in April, dropping more than half compared to the previous year, amid rising competition from Chinese electric carmakers, the continent's automobile manufacturers' association reported Tuesday.
The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) revealed that Tesla sold 5,475 cars across the 27 EU countries in April—a decline of 52.6 percent year-on-year. For the first four months of 2025, Tesla's sales dropped 46.1 percent to 41,677 vehicles compared to the same period last year, AP reported.
Once a clear leader in the electric vehicle (EV) market, Tesla was overtaken in April by 10 competitors, including Volkswagen, BMW, Renault, and Chinese automaker BYD, according to consultancy JATO Dynamics.
Tesla had earlier announced a 13 percent decline in global sales during the first quarter of 2025, attributing part of the drop to production disruptions caused by upgrades to its Model Y model. Despite these challenges, Elon Musk recently stated that Tesla's sales were 'doing well' and announced he would reduce his involvement in helping former US President Donald Trump with government spending cuts.
Hybrid vehicles still dominate as EV sales rise unevenly
Skoda's new Elroq led electric vehicle sales in the EU, while Tesla's Model Y, previously a market frontrunner, ranked ninth in April.
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Electric vehicle sales across the EU increased by 26.4 percent year-on-year in April, capturing 15.3 percent of the market, ACEA reported. However, growth was uneven, with countries like Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Spain showing significant gains, while France saw a decline in EV sales.
Sigrid de Vries, ACEA's director general, said, 'The share of battery-electric vehicles is slowly gaining momentum, but growth remains incremental and uneven across EU countries.
For battery-electric vehicles to become mainstream, governments must continue implementing enabling measures such as purchase incentives, fiscal support, recharging infrastructure, and managing electricity prices.'
Hybrid cars, which combine a small electric battery with traditional engines, continue to dominate the European market. Their sales rose 20.8 percent since the start of the year, while petrol-only car sales fell by 20.6 percent.
Chinese brands make strong gains in European market
Volkswagen remains Europe's top-selling brand, with sales up 2.9 percent in April. Meanwhile, Chinese automakers have made significant inroads in both electric and hybrid segments, now holding 7.9 percent of the EU market, according to JATO.
Brands such as BYD, MG, Xpeng, and Leapmotor saw a 59 percent increase in sales over the year, outpacing the 26 percent growth of other manufacturers.
JATO expert Felipe Munoz noted that the future of Chinese hybrid car sales in Europe might depend on whether the EU imposes tariffs similar to those on Chinese electric vehicles.
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