Last Updated on: 2nd June 2025, 11:31 pm
* If we exclude a cratering Tesla (-50% YoY).
We have positive news from Europe, with some 282,000 plugin vehicles being registered in Europe in April, jumping 28% year over year (YoY), or 33% if we exclude a falling Tesla.
This is their biggest growth rate since August 2023, which means that after the so-so year of 2024, Europe’s EV market is back on track, despite Tesla’s woes.
This is a particularly positive sign when considering that the overall market has stagnated this year (o% growth in April, 0% YTD), currently at some 4.5 million units YTD.
Interestingly, while BEVs seem stuck at twenty-something growth rates, growing 26% YoY in April to 184,000 units, PHEVs were the ones pushing the market upwards in April, jumping 30% YoY on the backs of new Chinese models. They were spearheaded by the BYD Seal U PHEV (aka euro-spec BYD Song PHEV), and also benefitted from a new wave of longer-range (100 km-plus/60 mi-plus electric range) plugin hybrids coming from the Volkswagen Group galaxy. PHEVs scored 98,000 sales in April, and their YTD numbers are now up 12% to 368,000 units.
As such, April saw the plugin vehicle share of the overall European auto market grow to 26% (17% full electrics/BEVs), one percent above the year-to-date numbers.
These results moved the 2025 BEV/PHEV share breakdown to 67% vs. 33%, meaning that plugin hybrids recovered one percent share, and the 2025 score is now the same as the final result of 2024, 67% for BEVs and 33% for PHEVs.
Considering the previous paragraph, while BEVs should stay on a 20-something percent growth rate in the near future, it could be the case that, as more Chinese PHEVs land and Volkswagen Group ramps up its portfolio of new PHEVs, plugin hybrids could witness a surge in sales in the near future, allowing them to become a new growth engine for plugins.
Finally, while both BEVs and PHEVs were the fastest growing powertrains in April, looking at the sales breakdown between the remaining powertrains, there is the usual steep fall of diesel and petrol sales. The former is down 25% YoY to 9% share now, and the latter is dropping by 22% YoY, with their share falling to 28%.
The real news is that plugless hybrids are starting to lose steam charge, with HEV sales growing 17% YoY in April, less than both BEVs and PHEVs, to 35% share.
This means that 61% of all car sales in Europe in April had some kind of electrification.
With these numbers in mind, one can say that diesel sales should effectively be dead in about three years time, while petrol should share the same fate a few years later (2031? 2032?), which will mean that by 2032, the whole European market will be at least partially electrified.
But let’s get back to April’s sales. The highlights this month were Volkswagen Group placing four models in the top 5, with the only EV managing to get in between being the Renault 5/Alpine A290 twins. Here’s a more detailed analysis on the top 5 EVs this month:
#1 Skoda Elroq — Veni, Vidi, Vici. The recently introduced Elroq (April was its 3rd full month on the market) has already won its first monthly best seller trophy, with Skoda’s new electric crossover scoring a record 8,098 registrations in April. Furthermore, it beat the remaining competition with some degree of comfort — the #2 Renault 5 ended more than 1,000 units behind. Although not as spacious as its bigger sibling, the Enyaq, it compensates for that with a competitive price, starting at 34,000 euros, which makes it one of the cheapest compact crossovers on the market, Chinese included. Could this be the new value-for-money king? This great performance allowed Skoda to score over 13,000 BEVs in April, a great result for the Czech brand, which would have left Skoda managers (and their head honchos in Wolfsburg) very happy indeed.
#2 Renault 5/Alpine A290 — Renault’s new star player delivered 6,940 units (with the help of its sportier Alpine twin), providing the model with its third podium presence in a row. While the Renault 5 isn’t class-leading specs-wise, it more than compensates for that in character, be it regarding the eye-catching design or the fun-loving driving dynamics. Together with correct prices and range, those things make it a very compelling offer for European buyers. One can even say that it is a car developed and built for the European mindset.
#3 VW ID.3 — Volkswagen’s hatchback won the last place on the podium, thanks to 6,771 registrations, its best score since June of last year. This is a 31% improvement over its sales in April 2024. With the German make finally pricing its compact hatchback correctly, with the 52 kWh Pure version now starting at 30,000 euros, one can imagine a bright future for the ID.3 in 2025. It could get regular top 5 monthly presences and a top 10 position in the EV chart. Slightly off-topic, in the current top 20, there are 9 compact crossovers and just 2 compact hatchbacks….
#4 VW ID.7 — The electric Volkswagen Passat scored 6,696 registrations in April. That represented exponential growth YoY, with the mid-to-large German model now officially becoming the new company-car darling in Europe. And one can see why — besides all the tangible strong points, like above average interior space, wagon availability, and long range (up to 702 km/436 mi WLTP), there are also a couple of intangibles helping. Those include the familiar badge and predictable residual value policies, and the fact that it is coming from a local brand, two intangibles that in 2025 count significantly for that segment of buyers.
#5 Volkswagen ID.4 — The compact crossover won another top 5 presence in April, with the MEB-platform model scoring 6,541 deliveries. This allowed Volkswagen Group to place four models on the best sellers table. With improved specs and lower prices (and the small detail that Volkswagen Group needs to sell more BEVs to keep up with the EU’s CO2 rules…), the German crossover is experiencing a second youth. While not EV enthusiasts’ choice, the ID.4 has enough going for it to attract a wide audience.
Outside the top 5, the highlight is another amazing score from the BYD Seal U, the euro-spec version of the BYD Song. With over 6,000 units moved in just one month, the 6th position achieved is its highest so far — and the highest for any BYD, for that matter. The vast majority of sales (some 5,000 units) came from the PHEV version, as that version benefits from lower tariffs (the standard 10%) compared to its BEV siblings. As such, it is not surprising that several Chinese OEMs — like Chery, Geely, and BYD — are introducing new PHEV models to Europe. They are all probably looking to replicate the success of the Song PHEV — I mean, Seal U PHEV, in Europe.
Next stop — a top 5 presence?
Still discussing the PHEV field, we are witnessing a generational change. While the Volvo XC60 PHEV and Ford Kuga PHEV were the longstanding sales champions, a new generation is taking over. Not only did the BYD Seal U become the best selling PHEV, but the new VW Tiguan PHEV is surging (#11 with 4,611 sales), profiting from a new generation and improved specs, and the Toyota C-HR PHEV (#17 with 3,600 sales) is profiting from all of the low hanging fruit available to the Japanese carmaker (in this case, it is really If you build it, they will come). Expect more changes to this category as new models show up.
Other conversation topics are Tesla’s fall from grace, with the Model Y delivering half of what it did a year ago while the Model 3 didn’t even make the table, and another strong month from Volkswagen Group, which had nine representatives in the top 20, replicating the success of a certain Shenzhen-based OEM in China.
Outside the top 20, this time there wasn’t that much to mention, the exceptions being the ramp-up of the bug-eyed Hyundai Inster (2,758 units) and the new Audi A6 e-tron, which reached a record high of 3,153 units.
This also meant that the big Audi took the full size category title. With class-leading specs (700 km-plus ranges + 270 kW charging speed) and reasonable pricing in a no-nonsense body (and station wagon — Avant — versions!), this is the recipe for success that the German premium makes need to follow. The badge alone won’t grant them success anymore, they need to work for it. The new A6 e-tron is a good start. Now they just need to replicate the recipe elsewhere.
Looking at the 2025 ranking, it’s The VW Empire Strikes Back edition, with six of the seven position changes benefitting models from the German OEM:
The VW ID.4 climbed one position, to the runner-up spot, thanks to the slow month of the Tesla Model 3;
As for the VW ID.7, it was up to 5th, now being just some 300 units behind the Tesla Model 3(!), which has been the longstanding king of midsize cars for ages;
The VW ID.3 climbed one position, to 7th, thus making it four Volkswagen Group models in the top 7;
Still in the Volkswagen stable, the Tiguan PHEV jumped three positions, to 15th, surpassing the Ford Kuga PHEV. Now, will the German crossover reach the tail of the PHEV leader, the Volvo XC60 PHEV?
Jumping to the Audi lineup, the new Q6 e-tron midsizer was also up, in this case to 14th, with the German BEV being the sole representative of the new PPE platform on the table;
Finally, thanks to its winning performance in April, the new Skoda Enyaq joined the table, in 19th, no doubt a standing that will be greatly improved in the coming months.
The remaining change allowed the Renault 5/Alpine A290 twins to jump two positions and join the podium, in 3rd, thus creating a diversified podium.
Now, will this podium remain as it is until the end of the year?
Well … yes and no.
The leader, the Tesla Model Y, despite being down an astounding 49% YoY, still has enough margin to keep this year’s title — which would be its 4th in a row — especially given the recent refresh. Now, as for 2026, if Tesla’s reputation continues to be tarnished as it has been, then, yes, the 2026 title will be up for grabs….
As for the Tesla Model 3, thanks to the expected delivery peak in June, it should be back in its usual position in 2nd, but with sales down 17% YoY and not the rosiest of outlooks for the remainder of the year (the Model Y refresh should steal some of its sales and the Tesla branding is increasingly toxic), the ones close by will have a shot at removing it from the silver, or even bronze, medal position.
That’s when the VW ID.4 and Renault 5 come in. With the two models expected to have strong results throughout the year, they are the most likely candidates to remove the Model 3 from the medal positions.
A longer shot will be the VW ID.7 and Skoda Elroq. While the first is, on paper, a direct competitor to the Model 3, I believe it is simply too expensive (prices starting from 55,000 euros) to steal clients in large volumes from the Tesla sedan, which gets 75% of its sales from the cheaper RWD versions, which start at 40,000 euros. As for the Czech EV, it will need an uninterrupted streak of strong results until the end of the year to jump from 19th to podium heights and compete for a medal. It’s not impossible, but … not likely.
One thing is certain: for the first time in years, the race for the podium positions will be an interesting one.
Also see the next part of our monthly report on European EV sales: Top Selling EV Brands & Auto Groups in Europe — April Sales Report.
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