Europe May 2025: BEVs up 28%, Chinese up 111%, Renault Clio repeats at #1

The Renault Clio is the best-selling vehicle in Europe for the 2nd month running.

Now with Top 99 All brands and Top 537 All models.

According to data by JATO Dynamics, the European new car market (28 countries) edges up 2.5% year-on-year in May to 1,107,517 units. This way, the year-to-date tally is up just 0.1% to 5,575,198. Local association ACEA has the market at 1,113,194 for the month (+1.9%) and 5,572,458 YTD (+0.1%). Among the main 5 markets, Spain by far performs best at +18.6% with all remaining four below the market growth rate: the UK is up 1.6%, Germany up 1.2% and Italy down -0.1%, but France is in a world of hurt at -12.3%. As for other markets, Iceland is up 49.6%, Lithuania up 43.8%, Norway up 39.1%, Latvia up 27.8% and Denmark up 23.3%. At the other end of the scale, Romania sinks -32.7%, Estonia is off -25.9%, Finland down -12% and Belgium down -11.7%.

BEV sales surge 28% to 194,300 and 17.5% share vs. 14% a year ago in May 2024, and PHEVs are up 31% to 108.878 and 9.8% share vs. 6.8% last year. ACEA gives us the detail by market. At this little game and for BEVs, Germany is the biggest market in volume with sales up a whopping 44.9% to 43,060 and 18% share, followed by the UK at +25.8% to 32,738 and 21.8% share. France goes completely against the grain with BEV sales down -18.7% to 19,414 and 15.7% share, Norway is up 69.6% to 13,384 and 93.9% share, Belgium is up 8.9% to 11,347 and 33% share, Denmark up 51.4% to 10,949 and 61% share and Netherlands up 8.2% to 10,459 and 34.6% share.

The Skoda Elroq is #1 in the Netherlands and in Denmark, it ranks #2 BEV in Europe.

SUVs continue to increase their footprint on the European market with sales up a whopping 10% year-on-year to 618,026 and 56% vs. 53% in May 2024. Chinese brands show exceptional growth at +111% to 65,808 and 5.9% share vs. just 2.9% a year ago. Chinese manufacturers have pivoted to PHEVs to escape tariffs on China-imported BEVs. In the OEM ranking, there is no change in the Top 10. The VW Group (+3%) evolves like the market to keep the lead ahead of Stellantis, in difficulty at -3%. The Renault Group is solid at +5%, distancing a stable Hyundai-Kia (-1%), with Ford Motor (+9%) and the BMW Group (+6%) both outpacing the market. Mercedes (+2%) is a little more shy, while the Geely Group (-11%) and Toyota Group (-4%) struggle. Closing the Top 10, SAIC surges 30% year-on-year.

In the brands charts, Volkswagen (+3%) is up slightly to over 124,000 units. It is followed by a surging Skoda (+13.6%) up to an all-time record 2nd place overall. The Czech brand is benefitting from the success of its new Elroq BEV and ascends to #3 YTD, overtaking BMW. Toyota (-5.3%) is relegated to third place above BMW (+1.1%), with Renault (-2.9%) and Mercedes (+2.1%) also trolling the market. Dacia (+12.4%) at #9 and Peugeot (+7.6%) at #7 both post solid gains. MG (+39.3%) is up to #15, a record ranking also reached last March. Cupra (+33.5%) is another success story, outselling sister brand Seat (-26.4%) by over 7,000 units. BYD soars 384.6% to #22, only 39 sales below Tesla (-30.5%). Jaecoo (#29) and Omoda (#33) continue to progress.

VW Tiguan sales are up 16% year-on-year in May.

Looking at the models ranking, the Renault Clio (+11.6%) brilliantly repeats at #1 with a 1,215-unit advantage over the #2. This performance is mainly due to a stunning score in France, which accounts for 46% of its Europe-wide volume for the month. The Clio ascends to #2 YTD as a result. Still leader year-to-date, the Dacia Sandero is up 3.2% to repeat at #2, distancing last year’s leader the VW T-Roc (-9.6%) rallying back up 6 spots on April to #3. The Peugeot 208 (-6.4%) is down one rank to #4 but ranks #3 YTD vs. #6 over the Full Year 2024. The VW Golf (-20.1%) sinks YoY at #5, with Germany representing 47% of its total volume. The Peugeot 2008 (-1.7%) is up five spots on April to #6, the nameplate’s highest ranking in one year, since also placing #6 in May 2024. The VW Tiguan soars 16% thanks to the new generation, while the Dacia Duster (+10.2%) is equally solid at #8. The Toyota Yaris Cross (+1.6%) and Citroen C3 (-5.1%) complete the Top 10.

As for the brands BEV ranking, Volkswagen (+50%) stays in first place, Skoda (+182%) overtakes BMW (+2%) to #2 with Audi (+70%) in tow. Tesla (-30%) endures another horrendous fall and ranks #5. Kia (+60%), Hyundai (+56%) and Renault (+31%) also perform well while outside the Top 10, Citroen (+411%), Ford (+280%) and BYD (+158%) make themselves noticed. The Tesla Model Y (-7%) reclaims the lead of the BEV models charts, toppling the Skoda Elroq. VW trusts the rest of the Top 5 with the ID.7 (+373%) at #3 followed by the ID.4 (+12%) and ID.3 (+14%).

Previous month: Europe April 2025: BYD above Tesla for the first time, Renault Clio #1

One year ago: Europe May 2024: Toyota (+8.3%), Skoda (+7.4%) solid, VW T-Roc and Golf in the lead

Full May 2025 Top 10 OEMs, Top 99 All brands, Top 537 All models, Top 25 BEV brands and Top 25 BEV models below.