According to new data, Volkswagen has seen a remarkable rise in its electric vehicle (EV) deliveries, while Tesla has experienced a noticeable drop in its European sales, losing its leading position.
In 2025, Volkswagen delivered around 274,417 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe, showing an impressive growth of about 50-56% compared to the previous year. On the other hand, Tesla's sales in Europe fell by roughly 27%, with around 238,765 units sold during the same period.
This shift in sales trends highlights a broader transformation in the European EV market. Although Tesla's Model Y remained the top-selling electric vehicle in the region, with 151,331 units delivered in 2025, it saw a nearly 30% decline in sales compared to 2024. Tesla's Model 3 also experienced reduced deliveries, with just over 86,000 units sold.
Volkswagen's success, however, isn't tied to just one model. The brand's stronger performance is due to its diverse lineup of electric vehicles. The ID.4 led the pack with over 80,000 units sold, followed by the popular ID.3 and the rapidly growing ID.7. The ID.7, in particular, saw impressive triple-digit growth, showing that Volkswagen's strategy of offering a variety of models in different sizes and price ranges is paying off, attracting a broader range of buyers.
The European EV market as a whole also continued to grow in 2025, with total sales of battery-electric vehicles rising by about 30%, reaching 2.6 million units.
However, Tesla's decline in the region shows how increased competition is reshaping consumer preferences. Volkswagen's strategy of providing a wider selection of models has clearly resonated with European buyers, allowing the brand to capitalize on the rising demand for electric cars.
In addition to its success in the pure electric vehicle segment, Volkswagen has also dominated the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) market, maintaining its long-standing position as Europe's best-selling automaker across all vehicle types, including petrol and diesel. This reinforces the brand's dominance in the region, where it has been the top seller for over two decades.
However, Volkswagen's impressive performance in Europe doesn't fully reflect its global EV results. While its deliveries in Europe surged, its overall global EV sales remained flat in 2025. This is due to a drop in deliveries in key markets like North America and China, which balanced out the growth in Europe.
Meanwhile, Tesla is facing mounting competition not only in Europe but also on a global scale. Recently, the company lost its title as the world's top EV maker to China's BYD, further highlighting the intensifying competition and changing dynamics in the global electric vehicle market.
Rania Umutoni
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/volkswagen-overtakes-tesla-as-europe-s-top-ev-seller-in-2025
