BMW overtakes Tesla in electric car sales in Europe in July

In July 2024, BMW surpasses Tesla in European EV sales despite declining market demand.

For the first time, BMW has taken the lead over Tesla in the European electric vehicle (EV) market. According to data from market analyst Jato Dynamics, the Bavarian automaker sold 14,869 fully electric vehicles in July, marking an increase of more than a third. In contrast, Tesla’s vehicle registrations fell by 16% to 14,561 units, allowing BMW to surpass the US-based EV leader.

Tesla is gradually losing market share in Europe to competitors like BMW and Volvo. Overall, demand for electric vehicles in Europe has decreased, with July seeing a 6% drop in EV registrations compared to the same period last year. This decline is partly due to the reduction or elimination of subsidies for electric mobility across Europe, leading several manufacturers to scale back their EV ambitions. For instance, Volkswagen postponed the launch of several models, and Mercedes halted the development of its large EV platform.

Despite these challenges, BMW has maintained robust sales of models like the i4 and iX1. However, Tesla’s Model Y remains the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe, even as its sales decline. Meanwhile, Chinese automakers like BYD are facing setbacks in their European expansion due to EU-imposed tariffs, which are already impacting their registration numbers.

Here are the top-selling electric vehicle models in Europe in July 2024:

1. Tesla Model Y – 9,544 units sold
2. Volvo EX30 – 6,573 units sold
3. Volkswagen ID.4 – 5,295 units sold
4. BMW iX1 – 4,305 units sold
5. BMW i4 – 4,198 units sold
6. Tesla Model 3 – 4,694 units sold