Record Electric Vehicle Sales in Europe
Sales of electric vehicles in Europe surged to record levels in March 2025, with a 23% increase to 275,108 units compared to the same period last year, according to data from Jato Dynamics. This significant growth was part of a broader improvement in the European new car market, which saw registrations of new passenger cars total 1,423,340 units – a 3.2% increase from March 2024.
Battery Electric Vehicles Lead the Growth
The data from 28 markets across Europe showed that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 240,891 registrations in March, making it the second-highest result on record for this powertrain. Only December 2022 had higher BEV registrations at 275,108 units. BEVs now make up 16.9% of total registrations, representing a 2.7 percentage point increase in market share compared to March 2024.
Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at Jato Dynamics, noted, “March was a momentous month for BEV registrations in Europe, indicating that the positive response we are seeing to the continually broadening offer is finally having a real impact on the overall market.”
Tesla Experiences Decline While Model 3 Shows Resilience
Despite Tesla being the world’s largest BEV maker by sales volume in 2024, the company recorded a 30% drop in registrations in March. This decline was significant but less severe than the drops experienced in January (-47%) and February (-44%). Munoz explained that Tesla is relying on the Model 3 to offset its losses, as the Model 3 saw a 1.1% increase to 12,500 units, topping the BEV ranking alongside the Model Y.
Market Shifts and Emerging Trends
While both the Model Y (-49%) and Model 3 (-14%) recorded declines between January and March, they remained ahead of other electric cars in Europe. The Volkswagen ID.4 followed in third position, thanks to an outstanding 115% increase in registrations, although it remained 2,000 units short of the Model 3.
The first quarter of 2025 proved to be the strongest on record for BEVs in terms of units registered, highlighting the growing momentum in the electric vehicle market across Europe.
