In a major shake-up for the electric car world, Chinese car maker BYD has just outsold Tesla in Europe for the first time ever. According to market research firm JATO Dynamics, BYD sold 7,231 electric vehicles in April—just edging past Tesla’s 7,165.
It’s a small gap, but a big deal. Why? Because Tesla has been dominating Europe’s EV scene for years, and BYD only officially launched here in late 2022. JATO even called it a “watershed" moment” as Elon Musk’s brand starts to lose ground.
BYD (short for Build Your Dreams) saw its EV sales jump 169% compared to last April. Tesla, meanwhile, took a big hit—dropping 49%. That change was enough to knock Tesla out of the top 10 EV brands in Europe for the month, with BYD jumping in.
Despite this success, BYD didn’t have any individual models in the top 25 bestsellers. Tesla’s Model 3 made it into 24th place, but it’s a far cry from where the brand used to be.
The top-selling electric car in Europe last month? The Skoda Elroq, followed by VW’s ID.3 and ID.7.
What’s Behind Tesla’s Slump?
While the European EV market grew 28% overall, Tesla’s numbers dropped. Part of that is down to a refresh of the popular Model Y, which was the world’s best-selling car in 2023. Tesla also shut down some factories to retool for the updated version.
There’s another factor at play too—Elon Musk’s increasingly political image. Analysts at Schmidt Automotive Research say his association with Donald Trump has turned some buyers away.
Tesla says demand is picking up again, and the new Model Y is expected to help—but we’ll have to wait and see.
Even with hefty EU tariffs of up to 35% on Chinese-made EVs, BYD’s total EV and plug-in hybrid sales have exploded—up 359% year-on-year. BYD’s strategy now includes plug-in hybrids as well as pure EVs, to dodge some of the EU's restrictions.
Other Chinese brands like MG (owned by SAIC) are also making waves. MG even made it into the top 10 most registered car makers in Europe last month.
In total, Chinese EV sales rose 59% in Europe, compared to 26% growth for European, Japanese, Korean, and American rivals.
BYD in the UK – What Can You Buy?
BYD arrived in the UK in 2023 and currently offers:
- Dolphin – from £26,205
- Atto 3 – from £37,705
- Seal – from £45,705
A new Atto 2 compact SUV is coming later this year, starting around £30,000. But the most exciting news? The Dolphin Surf – a new city EV expected to cost under £20,000. It’s being hyped as “the best value” electric car in its class.
BYD is also rapidly expanding, with over 60 dealerships already set up across the UK.
The New Tesla Model Y – What’s Changed?
Tesla’s updated Model Y is its first proper redesign in five years. Highlights include:
- Sleeker design with lightbars front and back
- Rear touchscreen and better in-car tech
- Self-cleaning exterior camera
- New trims and pricing:
| Trim | Price | Range (miles) |
|---|---|---|
| RWD | £44,990 | 311 |
| Long Range RWD | £48,990 | 387 |
| Long Range AWD | £51,990 | 364 |
| Launch Series AWD | £60,990 | 353 |
Read Regit's review of the new Tesla Model Y.
Whether the new Model Y can help Tesla bounce back remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear—Chinese EV brands like BYD aren’t just here to compete. They’re here to win.
