Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD outsold Tesla in battery-only vehicle registrations across Europe in April, marking a major turning point in the region’s competitive car market, according to a report from JATO Dynamics.
The data showed BYD’s European sales jumped 359% year-on-year, while Tesla’s fell by 49%—a stark contrast that highlights shifting momentum between the rivals. This marked the first time BYD surpassed Tesla in European BEV sales.
The milestone comes despite tougher import duties imposed by the EU on Chinese-made EVs last year, with BYD’s vehicles facing a 17% tariff compared to Tesla’s 7.8%. Industry experts say the gap in sales wasn’t wide, but the implications are significant.
“It’s a watershed moment,” said JATO’s global automotive analyst Felipe Munoz, noting Tesla had long dominated Europe’s electric car scene while BYD only entered most markets in late 2022.
BYD also outpaced legacy European brands like Fiat and Seat in countries such as France and is expanding further with a new factory in Hungary set to open soon.
JATO noted that demand for EVs in Europe remains strong, with BEV and plug-in hybrid registrations up 28% and 31% respectively. Chinese automakers, who lead globally in both categories, increased their overall European EV sales by 59% year-on-year in April, reaching nearly 15,300 units.
Tesla, meanwhile, has faced protests and a drop in share prices, which some have linked to Elon Musk’s political affiliations and leadership decisions. BYD’s stock has risen nearly 78% this year.
Related Readings:
#BYD #Beats #Tesla