The Tesla Model Y held on to its title as Europe’s best-selling battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in 2024. Showing its dominance in the BEV market, the accomplishment was achieved despite a 17% drop in registrations.
According to data from Jato Dynamics, the Model Y also ranked as the fourth most registered car overall in Europe last year. However, with 2025 now underway, it remains to be seen if the Model Y will again be crowned as Europe’s best-seller, as Tesla is facing a slow start in key regions such as France and Germany.
Tesla Model Y 2024 Sales in Europe
Despite declining registrations, the Tesla Model Y remained a dominant force in Europe’s BEV market, accumulating over 209,000 registrations. While it lost its title as Europe’s overall best-selling vehicle to the Dacia Sandero, the Model Y still managed to maintain its lead in the BEV category. This continued success was driven by strong demand in key markets like the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway.
While the Model Y was the best-selling BEV, the Model 3 was able to easily secure a second place showing with nearly 113,000 registrations in 2024 across Europe.
However, the broader European EV market showed signs of slowing down. BEV registrations in the region fell by 1.2% year-over-year (YoY), with overall BEV market share dropping slightly from 15.7% in 2023 to 15.4% in 2024. JATO says concerns over high vehicle prices, charging infrastructure, and uncertain government incentives contributed to this slowdown.
Tesla’s Challenging Start to 2025 in Europe
While Tesla managed to secure the top spot for BEV sales in 2024, early 2025 has painted a more challenging picture. Sales in France plummeted by 63% in January, with only 1,141 Tesla vehicles registered, compared to 3,118 in the same month last year. This dramatic decline significantly outpaced the overall EV market movement in France, which saw a comparatively modest drop of 0.5%.
Tesla’s slow start in 2025 may be influenced by external factors, including political controversies surrounding CEO Elon Musk. His vocal support for controversial political figures in Europe and the U.S. has led to backlash from some European consumers and businesses. In Germany, some companies have opted to exclude Tesla from corporate fleet purchases due to Musk’s political statements.
