Europe September 2025: Tesla Model Y back to #1, Chinese at 7.4% share

The Tesla Model Y lodges its first monthly win of 2025 but is still down YoY.

3/11 update: Now with Top 382 All models ranking.

According to preliminary data by Dataforce, the European new car market (EU+UK+EFTA) is up 10.5% in September to 1,236,002 units but up just 1.1% year-to-date to 9,968,745. ACEA has the market up 10.7% to 1,236,876 for the month and up 1.5% to 9,928,527 year-to-date. Chinese carmakers soar 149% to a record 7.4% market share, European brands are up 9.7%, Japanese brands are stable and South Korean manufacturers are up 2%. The market is skewed towards the UK this month as it corresponds to the bi-annual licence plate change. As such, the UK is up 13.7% to 312,891 with Germany up 12.8% to 235,528. Among the rest of the Big 5, Spain is up 16.4%, Italy up 4.2% and France up 1%. Best performing countries are Iceland (+55%), Bulgaria (+51.6%), Latvia (+48.5%), Lithuania (+46.9%) and Romania (+38.9%) whereas at the other end of the scale we have Estonia (-44.5%), Sweden (-2%), Switzerland (-0.6%) and Belgium (-0.5%).

BEV sales are up 21.9% to 260,256 and 21% share vs. 19.1% in September 2024. The biggest markets for BEVs are the UK up 29.1% to 72,779, Germany up 31.9% to 45,495, France up 11.2% to 31,439, Norway up 12.7% to 14,084, Denmark up 46.2% to 12,996 and the Netherlands down -3.3% to 12,008. Year-to-date BEV volumes are up 25.4% to 1,796,688 and 18.1% share vs. 14.7% last year. Meanwhile, this month PHEV sales are up 62.1% to 132,197 and 10.7% share vs. 7.3% a year ago and HEVs are up 15.3% to 434,947 and 35.2% share vs. 33.8% last year.

The Dacia Sandero remains the overall best-seller year-to-date.

Looking at the OEM ranking, the VW Group (+9.6%) is relatively solid this month and adds up to 2.65 million units through September (+4.4%). Stellantis (+13%) catches up on lost time but is still down YTD at -4.5%. The Renault Group (+14.9%) is in even better shape and crosses the 1 million units mark year-to-date. Hyundai-Kia (+1.5%), the Toyota Group (+2.6%) and BMW Group (+4.4%) are more muted. The Geely Group is up 11.9% at #9 with Tesla down -11% at #10.

Volkswagen (+9.8%) almost matches the market at over 126,000 sales, with the Top 5 brands unchanged on last month. Toyota (+4.4%) takes the 2nd spot above Skoda (+10.7%), BMW (+5.2%) and Mercedes (+3.3%). Dacia (+25.6%) manages the biggest gain and only double-digit uptick in the Top 10. Below, the Chinese get noticed with MG up 62%, BYD up 403.7%, Jaecoo up 5776.4% and Omoda up 189.2%. Other great performers include Alfa Romeo (+75.5%), Cupra (+44.6%), Citroen (+29%), Polestar (+26.7%) and Fiat (+20.9%). 

The BYD Seal U is up to a record #22 in Europe in September.

Over in the models charts, the Tesla Model Y (-10.2%) is back to #1 for the first time this year despite still enduring a hefty year-on-year loss. It is however stuck at a paltry 17th place year-to-date vs. #4 over the Full Year 2024 and #1 over the Full Year 2023. The Renault Clio (-2.7%) is back up three spots on August to #2, a ranking it also holds year-to-date. 43% of Clio European sales were generated in France. The Dacia Sandero (+1.3%) follows and rounds out the podium, still the faraway year-to-date leader with over 15,000 units more than the Clio.

The VW T-Roc (+45.8%) lodges another splendid score, boosted by rebates (up to 29% in France for example) on the outgoing generation. The VW Golf (+15.7%) and Tiguan (-14.4%) are in tow. Taking advantage of the market skewed towards the UK, the Kia Sportage (+1.7%) and Ford Puma (+10.7%) are back inside the European Top 10 at #7 and #8 respectively. Also helped by outstanding UK volumes, the BYD Seal U (+768.6%) is up to a record #22 and the Jaecoo 7 (+5690.1%) breaks into the Top 50 for the first time at #36.

Previous month: Europe August 2025: VW T-Roc repeats at #1, Toyota Yaris Cross and Hyundai Tucson at record levels

One year ago: Europe September 2024: Market off -4.2%, BEVs up 13.9%

Full September 2025 Top 70 brands and Top 482 models below.