- English
For the first time in history, German automaker BMW sold more electric vehicles in the European Union than U.S. rival Tesla. This happened in July 2024. The German manufacturer managed to increase its deliveries in a market that, overall, slowed down, Bloomberg reports.
Data analysed by consultancy Jato Dynamics shows that in July 2024 sales of all-electric BMW vehicles in the bloc increased by almost a third to 14,869 units. In contrast, Tesla deliveries fell 16% to 14,561 units.
Even though Tesla is still the sales leader in the EU market when it comes to the situation in the first seven months of the year, BMW’s strong advance in July is a novelty. It is the first time that the German luxury car manufacturer has overtaken Tesla.
BMW has overtaken Tesla in the EU electric car market
In total, last month, European buyers registered 139,300 new electric cars, down 6% compared to July 2023.
Demand for electric cars is falling in Europe after a number of countries. This include Germany and Sweden, The stopped or reduced subsidies, prompt manufacturers to revise their electric car strategies.
Germany’s Volkswagen AG had decided to cut capacity at Germany’s high-cost plants and suggested that could lead to delays in the launch of new electric models. For its part, Mercedes-Benz Group AG is reviewing its own plans for fleet electrification and battery-powered models.
„The lack of clarity on subsidies and/or the future of electric cars continues to be a barrier for consumers. These factors contributed to the decline recorded in July,” said Jato analyst Felipe Munoz.
BMW was able to buck the downward trend thanks to robust demand for its electric cars. This include the i4 and iX1 models, which sold better than similarly sized models from rivals Mercedes and Audi. Tesla’s Model Y retained its title as Europe’s best-selling electric model in the first half of the year, but deliveries for the more than four-year-old model are falling.
At the same time, although Chinese manufacturers, led by BYD Co. and SAIC Motor Corp., have gradually expanded in Europe this year. The new tariffs announced by Brussels slowed the influx of Chinese electric cars by 45% in July compared to June.
