Skoda remains competitive in the European EV market
15 December 2025
As battery-electric vehicle (BEV) volumes continue to rise in Europe, Skoda impressed with another table-topping performance. But can it topple Tesla come the end of the year? Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, reviews the latest figures from EV Volumes.
BEV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales continued to surge in Europe during October, as both technologies saw similar year-on-year growth. PHEVs enjoyed a rise of 36.6% to 112,653 units, according to data from EV Volumes. The improvement for BEVs was less pronounced at 31.1%, equating to 222,235 new deliveries.
Yet this was a more positive performance for BEVs than seen in recent months. It was the powertrain’s biggest increase since July, and marked its third-biggest monthly growth in the first 10 months of 2025. Conversely, October’s PHEV improvement was the technology’s lowest since April.
From January to October, a total of 1,032,137 plug-in hybrids were delivered, a rise of 32.1% year-on-year. This remained ahead of the 25.7% growth accrued by BEVs during the same period. However, the all-electric technology recorded a superior volume, with 2,023,682 deliveries.
Due to its smaller growth, the BEV share of the electric vehicle (EV) market has shrunk. It captured 66.2% of total EV deliveries after 10 months of 2025, down 1.1 percentage points year-on-year.
BEV success for Skoda
The Skoda Elroq topped the best-selling BEV table in October, its third monthly triumph in the first 10 months of the year. This was thanks to a record 11,291 units, after nearly one year of European deliveries.
The combined volumes of the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 sat 1,090 units behind in second. The duo posted 10,201 units in October alone. This was its highest-ever monthly figure and up 592.1% year-on-year. It was also the first time the model broke into five-digit monthly volumes.
Third went to the Skoda Enyaq. While it was unable to replicate its January success, it still managed its biggest delivery haul since March. Yet, the SUV’s 7,427-unit total was down 33.6% year-on-year.
A trio of VW’s
The Volkswagen (VW) ID.7 finished fourth in the month, with 7,172 sales, up 34.7%. This was its best performance in terms of volume since March. The BEV was followed by two of its siblings, namely the ID.3 and ID.4. The former sat fifth with 6,860 deliveries, an increase of 45.6% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, VW ID.4 volumes stalled compared to 12 months prior. Its 6,627-unit total equated to a 0.2% dip, despite this being its highest total since May.
Then came the Audi Q4 e-tron in seventh. The SUV recorded 9.2% growth year-on-year to 6,081 deliveries. This was its best sales tally since March. Its German rival, the BMW iX1, placed eighth, thanks to 5,748 units. This translated to an improvement of 21.8% compared to volumes from one year prior.
Tesla Model Y’s headache
After topping the BEV best-sellers table in September and August, the Tesla Model Y fell to ninth in October. This was due to the crossover’s quarterly delivery schedule, with September’s total nearly five times bigger than October’s. Its total of 5,496 sales in October was down 37.9% year on year.
Rounding out the top 10 was the Kia EV3, which completed a full year of deliveries in Europe. The BEV posted 5,067 deliveries in the month.
Can Skoda close the gap?
Despite a poor October, the Tesla Model Y still holds a seemingly insurmountable lead in the cumulative standings. The crossover recorded 115,414 units from January to October. So far, it remains the only EV with six-digit deliveries in Europe.
At the end of October, its closest rival was the Skoda Elroq, which moved up to second with its monthly success. The SUV posted 70,182 sales after 10 months of 2025.
However, despite the disparity in their October performances, the gap is simply too large to close. The Tesla Model Y can also be expected to post high volumes in December, due to its delivery schedule pattern.
A little further behind the Skoda Elroq was the combined volumes of the Renault 5 and the Alpine A290. The duo placed third in the cumulative standings and recorded 67,176 units from January to October.
The VW ID.3 placed fourth, with 64,272 sales. Just 204 units behind was the Skoda Enyaq. The SUV managed 64,068 deliveries after 10 months of 2025.
A last-minute comeback?
These models benefited from the recent poor performance of the Tesla Model 3. The sedan fell to sixth in the cumulative standings, after placing 57th in October with 1,301 sales.
Based on its delivery peaks this year in March, June and September, the Model 3 is unlikely to replicate its runner-up finish in 2025. However, a strong December could make things close. It will need a swing of 6,704 units in the last two months of 2025.
Two VW models followed in seventh and eighth. The ID.4 secured seventh, with 63,012 units. Then came the VW ID.7 with 60,965 deliveries. The Kia EV3 landed ninth, thanks to 55,415 sales, while the BMW iX1 placed 10th with 52,530 units.
Volvo’s return to the top
Volvo’s XC60 was Europe’s best-selling PHEV in October. Its 5,967-unit total was the SUV’s highest monthly figure since December 2024. It also equated to a 5.7% increase year-on-year.
Just 415 deliveries behind was the BYD Seal U, which led the chart in the previous month. The PHEV posted 5,552 sales in October, nearly half of its September total. Even so, volumes were still up 459.7% year-on-year.
The VW Tiguan took third, with deliveries up 41.8% to 4,946 units. Fourth was the Mercedes-Benz GLC. The SUV recorded 3,905 deliveries, up 19% compared to 12 months prior.
Fifth was the MG eHs, with sales surging by 162.3% to 3,557 units. In contrast, the Ford Kuga witnessed a 9.4% drop year-on-year to 3,494 deliveries. The Jaecoo J7 secured seventh thanks to 3,264 units, after volumes ramped up earlier this year.
The BMW X1 endured a 22% sales drop to 3,189 units in eighth. Its sibling, the X3, was just 38 units behind. However, its 3,151-delivery total represented a much more positive performance, up 608.1% year-on-year. The Audi A3 placed 10th, with 3,083 sales.
An ever-closer battle
In the cumulative PHEV standings, a three-way battle to take the full-year title remains. The BYD Seal U led the chart after moving into first place at the end of September. This was despite only topping the monthly table twice. The SUV recorded 51,389 deliveries between January and October.
The VW Tiguan saw its gap to first grow slightly to 1,193 units. With three monthly wins so far in 2025, the PHEV posted a total of 50,196 deliveries.
Gaining ground on both models was the Volvo XC60. The SUV has managed 48,582 deliveries overall. Despite this, the XC60 still has some catching up to do. After its October success, the gap between the top three PHEVs has been reduced to 2,807 units.
This showcases the high competitiveness of the PHEV market. One slip-up or surge in volumes during the last two months of the year could be the difference between taking a full-year victory and placing outside the top two.
Changing positions
A considerable distance behind was the Ford Kuga in fourth, with 37,730 sales. The SUV is the only model outside of the top three to record a monthly victory so far this year.
The BMW X1 finished fifth after 10 months of 2025, thanks to 33,416 deliveries. The Mercedes-Benz GLC followed in sixth, with 30,054 units. The SUV was closely followed by the MG eHS, recording 29,579 sales. Eighth in the cumulative table was the Toyota C-HR, with 29,130 units.
The BMW 5-Series claimed ninth in October, posting 24,014 units, while the Cupra Formentor was 10th with 23,816 deliveries.
