- The Volkswagen ID.4 has overtaken the Tesla Model Y as the best selling EV across the whole of Europe, according to JATO Dynamics’ European sales data.
- In January across Europe, Volkswagen shifted 7,177 units of the ID.4 – making it the top selling EV in the region. This was followed in second and third place by the Tesla Model Y and the Volkswagen ID.7, with unit sales of 6,115 and 5,879 respectively.
- The achievement by Volkswagen once again highlights a change in consumer perception against Tesla – particularly within Europe.
Volkswagen ID.4 becomes Europe’s best selling EV
The 7,177 ID.4s sold in January marked an impressive year-on-year increase – 195% to be precise, compared to the number sold in January 2024. The Model Y, meanwhile, was down 46% year-on-year compared to January 2024. That drop aligns with previously reported figures on Tesla, such as a 63% drop in all Tesla sales in France for the same month.
The Europe-wide figures from JATO Dynamics also echo EU-specific sales figures for this year. Whilst total car sales have dropped, this has been contributed by a drop in sales of ICE vehicles. Despite this drop, EV sales are continuing to see year-on-year growth to the rate of 38% across all of Europe, according to these latest figures.
With European car sales reports for February likely to be published by the end of the week, we’ll also be waiting to discover whether this trend of drastically reduced Tesla sales continues. Some have proposed that the drop in sales is not only down to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s recent controversies, but also a sign of customers waiting for the facelift Model Y to arrive. Sales figures over the next few months will confirm or deny that theory.
Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics, commented:
The market saw significant year-on-year growth in December 2024, largely due to the implementation of incentives and last-minute deals towards the end of the year. The removal of these has contributed to the decline in the number of passenger car registrations. The solid performance of BEVs is particularly impressive given the significant dip in sales that Tesla experienced in January. It’s not unusual for sales to drop just before a new generation or an updated model is introduced to the market, as the brand reduces the production of the existing model in anticipation of the new release. This is likely to be what Tesla is experiencing before it rolls out the refreshed version of the Model Y, after which it can expect to see sales pick up again.”
