Tesla triumphs amid new BEV and PHEV growth in Europe
21 May 2025
Deliveries of new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) continued to rise in Europe during the first quarter. Meanwhile, Tesla took the local lead. Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, reviews the figures.
In Europe, BEV registrations increased by 28% during the first quarter of 2025, with 578,990 sales. This was a 126,774-unit gain compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from EV Volumes. It also marked the continent’s highest-ever volume recorded by the technology in a single quarter.
PHEVs saw a more marginal growth from January to March. The powertrain’s total of 268,601 deliveries represented a 5.8% improvement year on year. This was its best three-month performance since the fourth quarter of 2022.
The increase was driven by a strong March performance. PHEVs experienced an 18.6% rise in deliveries after suffering declines in January and February. The technology reached 119,692 units, its best registration result since December 2022.
Meanwhile, 245,248 BEVs took to the continent’s roads in March, marking an improvement of 24.2% year on year. This was the market’s highest volume month since December 2022.
Tesla’s European turnaround
In the first quarter of 2025, the Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best-selling BEV. It recorded 30,407 registrations in the three-month period, equating to a 5.3% market share. However, this was the crossover’s lowest quarterly volume since the second quarter of 2022.
The UK led Europe in Model Y deliveries, accounting for 21.1% of the region’s total, followed by France with 15.4%.
In second place was the Tesla Model 3, jumping from eighth in February’s year-to-date standings. It took a 4% share of BEV deliveries in Europe during the first quarter thanks to 23,388 sales. The result marks a quick turnaround for the brand compared to the start of the year, when the Tesla Model 3 was outside the top 10 and the Model Y placed third.
The result was likely aided by Tesla’s regular market push at the end of each quarter. At this point, more models are shipped to customers.
This meant the Volkswagen (VW) ID.4 dropped to third, with a 3.5% market share and 20,472 units sold. This was its best quarterly volume performance in Europe since the third quarter of 2023. The Skoda Enyaq fell to fourth, achieving a 3.4% share with 19,889 registrations.
Record results
Fifth place went to the VW ID.7, down one spot from the year-to-date chart in February. It enjoyed its best-ever quarter, thanks to 18,694 deliveries. This meant it captured 3.2% of the total market.
The combined total of the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 secured sixth. The duo took a 3.2% share thanks to 18,568 sales.
Seventh went to the Kia EV3, dropping two positions from February. It recorded 18,333 units and a 3.2% share in its second quarter on the market. This meant just 361 units separated positions five to seven.
The VW ID.3 fell to eighth in the first quarter with 17,356 registrations, giving it a 3% share. Then came the Audi Q4 e-tron in ninth, reaching 17,164 deliveries and also posting a 3% share.
The BMW iX1 rounded out the top 10, representing 2.5% of the European BEV market with 14,379 sales.
Model Y leads Europe
After returning to the top in February, the Tesla Model Y was once again Europe’s best-selling BEV in March, with 15,646 deliveries. However, this was a 41.3% drop compared to one year prior.
It also marked the crossover’s lowest March figure since its launch. The Model Y made up 6.4% of BEV volumes, down from 13.5% in March 2024.
Its sibling, the Model 3, followed in second, with 12,684 registrations, up 2.1% year on year. It took a 5.2% share in the month, down 1.1 percentage points (pp) from March 2024.
The Skoda Enyaq claimed third, thanks to 7,687 deliveries. This was an increase of 64.6% from 12 months previously, and an improvement from its fifth-place finish in February. The SUV accounted for 3.1% of the market in March, up from 2.4%.
Just 31 units behind came the Renault 5 and the Alpine A290 with 7,656 registrations, giving it a 3.1% share.
VW Group’s European growth
The Audi Q4 e-tron finished fifth, reaching 7,568 registrations, up 15.4% year on year. This was the largest volume recorded by the model in nine months. The SUV represented 3.1% of overall deliveries, a 0.2pp increase from March 2024.
The VW ID.4 was only 42 units behind in sixth. Its total of 7,526 registrations marked a 60.7% increase compared to one year prior and was its biggest delivery total since August 2023. The BEV also took a 3.1% market share, up from 2.4%.
Its sibling, the VW ID.7, came next, with a record 7,362 sales. The BEV made up 3% of overall volumes, an improvement of 2.7pp compared to 12 months ago. The Kia EV3 also enjoyed its best-ever monthly result in eighth place with 7,100 units. This gave the SUV a 2.9% market share.
In ninth came the VW ID.3, with 6,442 registrations, its best performance since June 2024. This equated to a 62.3% growth year on year. The hatchback took a 2.6% share, up from 2%.
The Audi Q6 e-tron claimed 10th, reaching a record 5,747 deliveries. The SUV represented 2.3% of the BEV total in the month. This meant that six VW Group models were placed inside March’s BEV best-sellers table.
A PHEV title fight?
The Volvo XC60 was the most popular PHEV in Europe across the first three months of 2025, with 14,817 registrations. This gave it a 5.5% market share. It held a 1,781-unit gap to its nearest competitor, down from its 2,105-unit lead in February.
In second was the Ford Kuga, jumping two places from the previous month. It recorded a total of 13,036 deliveries, its best performance since the third quarter of 2023.
Just 158 units behind was the VW Tiguan, falling one spot from February. It reached 12,878 registrations, marking its highest number of deliveries in a single quarter. The model accounted for 4.8% of the market in the year to date.
The BYD Seal U finished fourth, rising four positions from the previous report. It posted 10,191 deliveries from January to March, its best-ever quarterly figure in Europe. The SUV took a 3.8% market share.
Changing positions in Europe
Fifth place went to the Toyota C-HR, with a record 9,316 sales and 3.5% share. Behind, the Cupra Formentor moved up one spot, reaching 8,626 registrations and capturing 3.2% of overall volumes.
Then came the BMW X1, which fell from third, with 7,992 deliveries. This was its lowest quarterly volume since the third quarter of 2023. The PHEV made up 3% of the market.
Its stablemate, the BMW 5-Series, improved by one position into eighth, with 7,019 units, its highest sales volume since the fourth quarter of 2022. This gave it a 2.6% share.
The Hyundai Tucson ranked ninth, falling three places from February. It recorded 6,639 registrations, its highest quarterly total since the second quarter of 2023. The model accounted for 2.5% of all PHEV registrations in Europe.
The Skoda Kodiaq returned to the table in 10th, posting 6,336 deliveries and taking a 2.4% share. This marked its best quarter since entering the market in April 2024.
Kuga is king again
The Ford Kuga was Europe’s best-selling PHEV in March. The last time the SUV topped the table was September 2024. It achieved 6,496 registrations in March, an improvement of 45% year on year and its highest monthly total since December 2022. The Kuga accounted for 5.4% of PHEV deliveries in Europe, up 1pp compared to March 2024.
Securing second was the BYD Seal U, thanks to a record 6,156 sales. The performance gave the SUV a 5.1% market share.
In third was the Volvo XC60, marking its lowest finishing position since August 2024. Its total of 5,864 registrations was up 1.8% year on year. It represented 4.9% of Europe’s PHEV market, down from 5.7%.
The VW Tiguan landed fourth, with a record 5,644 deliveries. This gave the SUV a 4.7% market share, up 3pp year on year.
Fifth place went to the Cupra Formentor, which posted 4,542 units, the PHEV’s best-ever monthly result. This equated to a 66.7% growth compared to 12 months ago. The model captured 3.8% of overall volumes, up from 2.7%.
More record results
Then came the Toyota C-HR, with 3,516 registrations, its highest monthly figure so far. It also gave it a 2.9% share, up from 0.8% a year prior.
In seventh was the MG eHS, reaching 3,135 deliveries, up 106.8%. This was the model’s best performance since December 2022. The SUV’s 2.6% market share was up from 1.5%. Eighth place was taken by the Cupra Terramar, with 3,002 units in its seventh month on the market. The new model made up 2.5% of PHEV registrations in Europe.
The BMW X1 claimed ninth, delivering 2,928 units to customers. This was a decline of 10.8% compared to March 2024. Its market share fell from 3.3% to 2.4%.
Rounding out the top 10 was the VW Golf, with 2,826 registrations. This was its highest monthly figure since June 2021 and gave it a 2.4% share, up from 0.7% in March 2024.
