Byd sold more electric cars than Tesla in Europe. The Clio tops the charts. Skoda wins in electrics
Based on statistics from the British Jato Dynamics Institute, the Chinese brand sold more battery-powered models than the US brand in Europe in April. Electric + 28% and plug-in + 31%. The best-selling car was the Renault Clio, and among electric cars the Skoda Elroq.
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Byd overtook Tesla for the first time in April in terms of the number of electric cars sold. Even though the difference between the monthly sales totals of the two brands is minimal, 7,231 units (+169%) for Byd compared to 7,165 units for Tesla (-49%), the resulting figure could be considered a possible watershed for the European market, according to the findings of the British institute Jato Dynamics. Considering that Tesla has been in the lead for its electric car sales for years, while Byd only officially started importing in Norway and the Netherlands at the end of 2022.
Byd up sharply as Tesla plummets
While Tesla reported another year-on-year monthly decline of 49% in April, Byd, on the other hand, recorded an increase of 359% by adding plug-ins to its electric cars. Byd's rapid expansion has already allowed the brand to overtake European brands such as Seat in Italy, Fiat and Seat in France, Fiat in Spain and Dacia, Fiat and Seat in the UK. This steady growth by Byd comes before the brand started production for Europe at its new plant in Hungary. Not to mention the increase in sales of electrified cars.
Electrics and plug-ins weigh 26% of the market
.In April, sales of electrics and plug-in hybrids together accounted for 26% of new car registrations in Europe, a record that can also be explained by the record registrations made by the growing number of Chinese brands. In particular, battery-powered cars accounted for 17% of total sales, compared to 13.4% in the average month of April 2024, while plug-in hybrid models actually accounted for 9% of total registrations, compared to 6.9% in the corresponding month last year.
Chinese electrics and plug-ins on the rise
Despite the tariffs imposed by the EU, registrations of electric cars by Chinese manufacturers increased by 59% to 15,300 units. Within the sector, manufacturers from Europe, Japan, Korea and the United States, however, saw an increase of 26%. Plug-ins also saw great development, with volumes of Chinese brands growing by 546% to 1,493 units compared to 9,649 units in April 2024, allowing Chinese car brands to account for 10% of Phev sales in Europe.
Renault Clio is the best-selling car in April
.The Renault Clio was Europe's best-registered car during April, with 18,997 units despite a slight decrease of 3%. Not since June 2020 has the Clio topped the model ranking, having lost ground in recent years to its low-cost rival, the Dacia Sandero, Europe's best-seller in 2024. The most significant growth in the top ten best-selling models in April in Europe was, however, that of the Vw Tiguan + 32% for a total seen of 16,277 units.
