European BEV market hits record highs in March

Europe’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) market surged to near-record levels in March, cementing a strong start to the year for electrified mobility across the continent—even as Tesla, the sector’s longtime leader, continued to lose ground.

According to new data from JATO Dynamics, March 2025 saw 240,891 BEV registrations across 28 European markets, marking the second-best month on record for electric vehicle sales in the region. BEVs accounted for 16.9% of all new car registrations for the month, a 2.7 percentage point increase from the same period in 2024, with volumes rising 23% year-on-year. This performance capped off the strongest-ever quarter for BEV registrations in Europe.

“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,” said Felipe Munoz, Global Analyst at JATO Dynamics.

Tesla tops rankings despite losing momentum

Despite the booming BEV market, Tesla recorded a sharp 30% drop in registrations in March, continuing its downward trend from earlier in the year. While this marked an improvement from the steeper declines seen in January (-47%) and February (-44%), it still represented the largest drop among the top 30 brands by volume.

Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 remained Europe’s most registered electric vehicles in March, but both models saw double-digit declines in Q1—down 49% and 14%, respectively. Still, the Model 3 managed a 1.1% increase in March alone, with 12,500 units registered, helping Tesla hold onto its BEV leadership position.

“Despite the controversy surrounding the brand’s CEO and the limited availability of the new Model Y, Tesla continues to perform well as the most popular EV brand in Europe,” Munoz noted. “Its success, amid these challenges, shows what European consumers are still looking for in an EV.”

Market leaders and rising stars

The Peugeot 208 dethroned the Dacia Sandero as Europe’s most registered car in March, though the Sandero retained its crown for the first quarter overall. Within the top 10, the Volkswagen Tiguan recorded a strong 42% growth, joined by the Peugeot 2008 and Opel/Vauxhall Corsa—none of which appeared in the March 2024 top 10.

Chinese automakers also made a notable impact. MG sold nearly 9,800 units of its new MG3 hybrid, while BYD registered 7,144 units—most of which were plug-in hybrids. Jaecoo, a newer Chinese entrant, recorded 7,000 units of its Jaecoo 7 SUV, despite the model not offering electric or plug-in powertrains.

The Volkswagen ID.7 ranked as Europe’s fourth most-registered electric vehicle with 7,438 units, followed by the Kia EV3 (7,173) and Renault 5 (7,000). The new Renault Symbioz and Fiat 600 also made strong debuts.

National trends and market outlook

The overall European passenger car market rose 3.2% year-on-year in March, totalling 1.42 million units. The first quarter closed with registrations nearly flat at 3.38 million units, just 628 units fewer than Q1 2024.

The UK led the region’s growth with a 13% increase in registrations. Italy and Spain also recorded gains, while Germany and France saw declines of 3.9% and 15%, respectively.