European EV market improvement as Skoda and VW soar
19 March 2025
The European battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market started 2025 positively as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) struggled. Skoda and Volkswagen (VW) saw registrations increase, while Tesla slumped. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, reviews the latest data from EV Volumes.
A total of 167,069 new BEVs took to European roads in January, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. This equated to a year-on-year increase of 36.6% or 44,735 units.
Meanwhile, PHEV registrations dropped by 4.3% compared to 12 months ago, down to 76,377 deliveries. It was the lowest volume total for both technologies since August 2024.
Germany was Europe’s biggest BEV market, accounting for 20.6% of the region’s all-electric registrations. It also led the PHEV segment, making up 23% of volumes. Germany was also the third best-selling country for both powertrains worldwide.
The UK was the second-largest BEV and PHEV market in Europe, trailing Germany by 4,874 units and 5,287 units respectively. Last year, it moved ahead of Germany as the region’s biggest BEV market.
The two nations are some distance ahead of other European countries. France was the third biggest BEV buyer in January. The next two positions were filled by Belgium and the Netherlands.
European win for Skoda
The Skoda Enyaq was Europe’s best-selling BEV in January, with 7,163 deliveries. This was an increase of 47.7% compared to one year ago, representing a difference of 2,313 units.
It was only the brand’s second time leading the BEV market, after topping the table for the first time in October 2024. The Enyaq took a 4.3% market share in the month, up 0.3 percentage points (pp) from January 2024.
However, the Enyaq may soon face internal competition from Skoda’s upcoming seven-seater all-electric SUV. The brand also made headlines at the end of February, announcing it would indirectly reduce its workforce by 15%.
Just 391 units behind was the VW ID.4. It reached 6,772 registrations, a jump of 198.1% year on year. This equated to a gain of 4,500 units. The model made up 4.1% of the BEV market, up from its 1.9% share recorded 12 months ago.
VW Group’s software division, which assists with the development of the ID range, recently revealed plans to cut 1,600 jobs. This amounts to just over 27% of its total workforce.
Meanwhile, the carmaker has signed a memorandum of understanding with CATL. According to Reuters, the two companies aim to deepen their partnership in battery development.
The ID.4’s sales may be cannibalised in the future by the upcoming small BEV, the ID. Every1. However, production will not begin until 2027.
Tesla’s European sales slump
The Tesla Model Y took third with 6,473 sales. This was the first time that the crossover placed outside of the top two since October 2022. January marked its lowest volume total in 28 months. It also represented a drop of 43.6% year on year. It took a 3.9% market share, down 5.5pp compared to 12 months ago.
The carmaker has begun deliveries of the revised Model Y in Europe. Tesla will be hoping this new edition can reverse its decline. However, Tesla has faced significant turbulence so far this year.
The manufacturer’s stock has fallen by nearly half in three months after sales in Europe dropped, the BBC reported. Furthermore, protests have taken place outside multiple Tesla dealerships, including one demonstration in Portugal, Reuters wrote.
In fourth came the VW ID.7, with a record 5,918 units. This was a surge of 671.6% year on year for the model which began deliveries in September 2023. The ID.7 represented 3.5% of total BEV sales, up from its 0.6% share posted one year ago.
Kia’s lineup expands
The Kia EV3 finished fifth in January, thanks to 5,594 registrations. This gave the SUV a 3.3% share in just its fourth month of deliveries.
The brand is expanding its plug-in lineup, after revealing the EV4 at the end of February. The BEV will be offered as a hatchback or sedan and is primarily aimed at the European market. A model launch is currently expected in the second half of 2025.
Kia also unveiled the Concept EV2. This is a vision of an upcoming B-segment BEV expected to launch in Europe in 2026.
The Kia EV3 was closely followed by the VW ID.3 in January, which sat just 19 units behind it. Its total of 5,575 sales was its best result since June 2024. This was a 173.4% surge year on year. The hatchback accounted for 3.3% of overall volumes, up 1.6pp compared to 12 months ago.
In seventh was the Dacia Spring, with 4,819 registrations, up 38.7% compared to January 2024. It was also the SUV’s highest monthly total since December 2023. The Spring took a 2.9% share, up from its 2.8% market hold from one year ago.
European success for VW Group
The Audi Q4 e-tron secured seventh in January, with 4,786 units. However, this was its lowest delivery month since August 2024. It also marked a decline of 4.2% year on year. The model made up 2.9% of the market, down from its 4.1% share recorded one year ago. This meant that VW Group models represented half of the month’s BEV top 10.
A new entry-level variant of the Q4 e-tron was added in February, with orders due to begin in March. Since then, the carmaker has announced it will cut 7,500 jobs in Germany as reported by Autocar. The brand aims to reduce personnel costs by €1 billion a year.
In ninth came the combined figures of the Renault 5 and the Alpine A290. The pair reached 4,510 sales, equating to a 2.7% market share.
Rounding out the top 10 in January was the Volvo EX30 which recorded 4,357 units. This was an improvement of 93.5% compared to 12 months ago. However, it was also the crossover’s lowest monthly total since February 2024. The BEV captured 2.6% of BEV deliveries, up 0.8pp year on year.
Volvo’s lineup will soon include the ES90, which is already available to order in certain European markets. Elsewhere, the brand revealed it was using AI and virtual worlds to enhance its driver assistance systems.
Volvo’s PHEV tops Europe
Volvo’s XC60 topped Europe’s PHEV market for the fourth month in succession, after comfortably taking the 2024 title. It posted 4,974 registrations in January, an increase of 21.9% from one year ago. The SUV accounted for 6.5% of all plug-in hybrid volumes, up from 5.1%.
The VW Tiguan landed in second, thanks to 3,625 sales. This was a growth of 195.2% on January 2024. The SUV took a 4.7% market share, an improvement of 3.2pp year on year.
Taking third was the BMW X1. Registrations of the model rose by 53% in the month, giving it a total of 3,304 units. It made up 4.3% of total PHEV volumes, ahead of its 2.7% market hold from one year ago. The SUV will be joined by the iX3 later this year, which is due to be revealed in September, as reported by Autocar.
The Ford Kuga, also known as the Escape, finished fourth with 2,826 sales. This was its lowest volume month since August 2024 and represented a year-on-year decline of 19.9%. The PHEV captured 3.7% of the market, down 0.7pp.
Just 68 units behind the Ford Kuga was the Toyota C-HR. The model reached 2,758 deliveries in its 11th month of sale. This gave it a 3.6% market share.
The carmaker presented an array of new Toyota production and concept vehicles at its annual product strategy event last week. This included the C-HR+, Urban Cruiser and an updated bZ4X.
A close race
The Hyundai Tucson secured sixth with 2,387 registrations. This was an 11.2% increase from January 2024 and its highest monthly total since March 2024. The SUV represented 3.1% of overall PHEV volumes, up from 2.7%.
Hyundai is preparing its plant in Turkey for electric vehicle (EV) production to meet growing demand in Europe.
Positions seven to 10 were closely contested, with just 93 units separating four models. Coming out on top was the Mercedes-Benz GLC, with 2,093 deliveries. This was a drop of 35.1% compared to 12 months ago and marked its lowest volume month since April 2023. It took a 2.7% market share, down 1.3pp year on year. The marque further expanded its EV range with the debut of the CLA in March.
Eighth went to the Cupra Formentor. The SUV recorded 2,060 registrations, a drop of 2.4% from one year ago. It accounted for 2.7% of overall PHEV sales, up from 2.6%. Just two units behind in ninth was the BMW X5. Volumes of the model fell 7.7% year on year and its market share declined 0.1pp to 2.7%.
In 10th was the Skoda Kodiaq, which reached 2,000 sales. The PHEV began deliveries in April 2024 and has seen European volumes stabilise from November 2024. It made up 2.6% of the market in January.
