February EV sales rose in Europe even as overall passenger car registrations fell 3% in February. JATO Dynamics reported 966,300 new vehicle registrations across 28 markets, with declines in Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands driving the downturn. Year-to-date sales dropped 2%, totaling 1,962,850 units.

“There are still no clear signs of recovery in the European automotive industry,” said Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics. “Uncertainty in the domestic market is being further complicated by challenges in both China and the US.”

Battery Electric Vehicle Registrations Reach Record High

EV sales rose sharply, with BEV registrations increasing 26% to 164,000 units—the highest February total on record. Year-to-date BEV sales hit 329,700 units, a 31% increase from the same period last year.

Tesla’s market share fell to 9.6%, its lowest February figure in five years. Year-to-date, Tesla dropped from 18.4% in 2024 to 7.7%. Model Y registrations declined 56% to 8,800 units, while Model 3 fell 14% to 6,800.

Munoz explained that Tesla is phasing out the current Model Y to prepare for a refreshed version. This transition caused the sales dip, not just external factors.

Chinese Brands Take Lead in Europe EV Sales

Chinese automakers took advantage of Tesla’s slowdown. They registered 19,800 BEVs in February, outpacing Tesla’s 15,700. Leading brands included BYD and Polestar, which saw sales increases of 94% and 84%, respectively.

Xpeng and Leapmotor also gained traction with over 1,000 and 900 units, respectively.

Renault and VW Lead Europe EV Sales

Volkswagen retained the largest market share at 25.8%. Renault Group followed with a 12% increase in volume and a 1.5-point market share gain. The Renault Clio, Dacia Duster, Symbioz, and Renault 5 boosted this performance.

Renault’s BEV registrations grew 96% to 9,400 units. Volkswagen BEV sales climbed 108%. Other BEV risers included Citroen (+190%), Cupra (+179%), Mini (+804%), and Ford (+146%).

Dacia Sandero Tops February Rankings

The Dacia Sandero held the top spot as Europe’s most registered vehicle. The Citroen C3 placed second, and the Renault Clio secured third with a 22% gain.

Volkswagen Tiguan saw a 43% rise and re-entered the top ten, replacing Tesla Model Y and Skoda Octavia. Standout top-100 performers included the Volkswagen ID.4 (+150%), ID.3 (+114%), Fiat 600 (+369%), and Cupra Born (+64%).