Europe March 2025: BEV sales up 23.6%, Tesla down -29.2%, Peugeot 208 #1

The Peugeot 208 is the best-selling vehicle in Europe for the first time since October 2022.

According to data by ACEA, new car sales in Europe (EU+EFTA+UK) step up 2.8% year-on-year in March to 1,422,658 units. This compensates for negative results in January and February to stabilise the Q1 volume down just -0.4% to 3,382,057. JATO has the market up 3.2% in March to 1,423,340 and stable YTD at 3,383,986. Being a license plate change month, the UK is the dominant force in the European market in March and lifts overall sales up thanks to a +12.4% surge. Spain (+23.2%) also posts a stellar result with Italy (+6.3%) also solid but Germany (-3.9%) and France (-14.5%) in bad shape. Looking at the rest of the markets, Iceland (+90.6%) performs best above Lithuania (+55.7%), Latvia (+37.1%) and Norway (+36.5%). At the other end of the scale we have Malta (-61.6%), Estonia (-43.1%) and the Netherlands (-14.8%).

Over Q1 and among the Top 5 markets, Spain (+14.1%) performs best above the UK (+6.4%) whereas Italy (-1.6%), Germany (-4.3%) an France (-7.8%) all recede. Iceland (+63.2%), Norway (+46.6%), Lithuania (+38.8%) and Latvia (+22.3%) score the biggest upticks whereas Estonia (-55%), Malta (-51.5%) and Slovakia (-13.1%) are hit the hardest.

Pushed up by a 43.2% surge in the UK to 69,313 units, BEV sales soar 23.6% over the continent to 242,913 and 17.1% share vs. 14.2% a year ago. This is the second biggest monthly BEV volume in European history behind December 2022 (275,108 according to JATO Dynamics). Behind the UK, Europe’s biggest markets for BEVs this month are Germany at 42,521 (+35.5%), France at 29,261 (-13.9%), Belgium at 13,650 (+16.6%), the Netherlands at 11,195 (-14.1%) an Norway at 11,192 (+28.5%). BEV sales are up 28% over Q1 to 573,500, making it the largest ever quarterly result for the powertrain. BEV volumes in the UK gain 42.6% over the period,  +47% in Norway, +68.9% in Spain, +38.9% in Germany, +72.5% in Italy and +61.7% in Denmark.

Meanwhile PHEVs gain 19.5% for the month to 119,398 and 8.4% share vs. 7.2% in March 2024, HEVs surge 24.5% to 527,091 and 37.1% share vs. 30.6% a year ago. Petrol is down -20.1% to 393,455 and diesel off -24.2% to 105,699.

In the OEM charts and according to JATO dynamics, the VW Group posts a solid +12% uptick, as do the Renault Group and Ford Motor. All other Top 10 members are in negative, albeit in the single-digits. Stellantis (-6%) stays at #2 while Hyundai-Kia (-3%) and the Toyota Group (-5%) round out the Top 5.

Brand-wise, Volkswagen (+13.9%) vastly outpaces the market to continue on its implacable domination. The podium is unchanged on last month with Toyota (-6.2%) and Renault (+16.4%) in tow. Skoda (+18.9%), Peugeot (+12.4%) and Ford (+11.2%) shine in the remainder of the Top 10. Further down, MG (+53.5%) soars to #15, a new ranking record for the brand, and Cupra (+61.7%) obliterates sister brand Seat (-15.3%) at 33,081 sales vs. 23,976. Tesla is down -29.2% to #20. BYD is up 5-fold on a year ago (+416.4%) and Jaecoo reaches almost 7,000 sales.

Over in the models ranking, the Peugeot 208 (+7.6%) lodges its first monthly win in 2.5 years: since October 2022. The Dacia Sandero (-4.2%) is relegated to 2^nd place but easily holds onto the Q1 pole position. The Renault Clio (+0.4%) repeats at #3 ahead of the Nissan Qashqai (-7.8%) up 12 spots on last month to #4 thanks to its UK volumes. The VW Golf (-16.4%) struggles at #5, distancing the VW T-Roc (+2.1%), Opel Corsa (+7.4%) and Peugeot 2008 (+7.4%). The VW Tiguan (+42%) sports the biggest gain in the Top 10 just as the MG ZS (+49.1%) breaks its ranking record at #15. The Renault Symbioz (#44) is the best-selling recent launch above the Kia EV3 (#64), Jaecoo 7 (#69) and Renault 5 (#70).

Looking at BEV sales in isolation, among brands Tesla (-30%) reclaims the top spot off Volkswagen (+118%), but the German brand easily tops the charts over Q1. BMW (+14%), Audi (+70%), Renault (+69%) and Skoda (+164%) follow. Further down, notice Mini (+1052%), Porsche (+503%), BYD (+189%, Ford (+157%) and Citroen (+128%). Model-wise, the Tesla Model Y (-43%) and Model 3 (+1%) top the charts ahead of the VW ID.4 (+57%) and ID.7 (+986%). The Kia EV3 is up two spots on last month to #5 while the Renault 5 drops two to #6. The Skoda Elroq makes its Top 25 debut directly at #13.

Previous month: Europe February 2025: BEVs up 25.5%, Tesla off -43.4%, Citroen C3 up to record #2

One year ago: Europe March 2024: Toyota (+9%), BMW (+9.4%) impress in negative market, Dacia Sandero #1 over Q1

Full March 2025 Top 10 OEMs Top 99 All brands, Top 538 All models, Top 25 BEV brands and Top 25 BEV models below.