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In a “watershed moment,” BYD outsold Tesla in Europe after EV registrations surged over 350% in April. With its top-selling electric car launching this week, this could be just the start.
BYD expands in Europe as EV registrations rise in April
After crushing the competition in China, BYD is now becoming a global phenomenon. Last month, it outsold Tesla for the first time in Europe as several new EV models hit the market.
According to new data from Jato Dynamics, BYD’s registrations in Europe increased by 359% in April compared to last year.
Although those numbers include EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, even if you look at purely electric registrations, it’s clear that BYD is quickly outpacing the competition.
BYD registered 7,231 EV models in Europe last month, an increase of 169% compared to April 2024. On the other hand, Tesla registered 7,165 EVs in April, down 49% from last year.
“Although the difference between the two brands’ monthly sales totals may be small, the implications are enormous,” Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics, explained. Munoz called it “a watershed moment for Europe’s car market.”
BYD officially began selling vehicles in Europe in late 2022, while Tesla has led the European electric vehicle market for years.
Last month, the top registered EVs in Europe included the Skoda Elroq (1), Volkswagen’s ID.3 (2), ID.7 (3), ID.4 (4), and the Kia EV3 (5).
Tesla’s Model Y was the ninth most registered EV in April, with 4,495 registrations, down 53% from last year. The Model 3 came in at number 24, with 2,604 registrations, down 41%. No BYD models placed in the top 25.
Just yesterday, BYD launched what could be its biggest hit so far in Europe, the Dolphin Surf. The Dolphin Surf is the European version of BYD’s best-selling EV, the Seagull, which is sold for under $10,000 in China.
The compact electric city car starts at 19,990 euros ($22,700), undercutting top-sellers including the VW ID.3, which starts at around 30,000 euros ($34,000).
The Dolphin Surf is the latest to join BYD’s rapidly expanding European EV lineup, which now includes a full lineup of premium models (Denzda), ultra-luxury (Yangwang), SUVs, sedans, and entry-level vehicles.
Electrek’s Take
To be fair, Tesla is still ahead of BYD in Europe by a wide margin through the first four months of 2025. However, BYD will likely see more demand with new vehicles rolling out throughout the year.
S&P Global Mobility expects BYD to more than double its sales in Europe in 2025 to around 186,000 units. By the end of the decade, BYD’s volume in Europe could reach around 400,000.
While Tesla faces slower sales over CEO Elon Musk’s political stunts and support for US President Donald Trump, BYD is taking advantage. And it’s not just in Europe.
Earlier this month, BYD had its best sales week of the year in China, with nearly 68,000 registrations from May 5 to May 11. Tesla had just over 3,000 registrations during the same week.
Will BYD continue gaining ground on Tesla and other global automakers with new vehicles rolling out? Let us know your thoughts below.
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