BYD surpasses Tesla in Europe for the first time with a 169% surge in sales.
For the first time, BYD Co. surpassed Tesla Inc. in electric vehicle sales in Europe, marking a significant shift in the leadership of the continent’s EV market that has long been dominated by the American brand. According to market researcher Jato Dynamics, China’s leading automaker recorded 7,231 new battery-electric vehicles in April. That represented an increase of 169% compared to the previous year, propelling BYD into the ranks of the top 10 brands in terms of EV sales. Tesla fell one position as its registrations declined by 49%. “Although the difference between the two car brands’ monthly sales totals may be small, the implications are enormous,” Jato Dynamics analyst Felipe Munoz stated in an emailed communication. “This represents a pivotal juncture for Europe’s automotive sector, especially when one takes into account that Tesla has dominated the European BEV market for years.”
Tesla persisted in its decline, even as growth in Europe’s EV segment accelerated. Registrations increased by 28% across the industry, with leading electric vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen achieving a 61% rise in electric car sales in April compared to the previous year. Volkswagen AG’s Skoda has seen a remarkable increase, with its EV registrations more than tripling. BYD surpassed Tesla by an even greater margin when factoring in the carmaker’s plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. According to Jato, the total sales of the Chinese company experienced a remarkable increase of 359% in April compared to the same month the previous year.
Until recently, BYD and its Chinese counterparts had focused on the sale of fully electric vehicles in Europe, driven by the region’s ambitious goals to reduce tailpipe emissions and shift the industry away from internal combustion engines. The strategy shifted following the European Union’s decision to impose elevated tariffs on Chinese-made EVs last year, prompted by the conclusion that substantial subsidies from Beijing had established an inequitable advantage for its enterprises. For the first time, BYD and other Chinese manufacturers are now achieving substantial sales of plug-in hybrids in Europe. “In the near future we’ll have two pillars,” stated Maria Grazia Davino, BYD’s regional chief, during an industry event in Stuttgart, Germany, last month. “One is electric.”
BYD is set to strengthen its electric vehicle portfolio in Europe with the Dolphin Surf, a fully electric hatchback priced under €23,000 ($26,000). The manufacturer unveiled the model in Berlin on Wednesday, revealing that the standard version, which offers a range of 220 kilometers (137 miles), will be available for €19,990 in Germany until the end of June, with a subsequent price of €22,990 thereafter. The Dolphin Surf, an enhanced and somewhat elongated variant of the Seagull hatchback, presents an array of premium features such as a rotating touchscreen, keyless entry, and advanced cruise control. The vehicle is set to rival models such as Renault SA’s R5 and Stellantis NV’s Citroën ë-C3.
