- BYD’s new car registrations in Europe surged past Tesla for the second consecutive month in February, cementing its lead in the region’s increasingly competitive electric vehicle market.
The Chinese automaker recorded 17,954 new car registrations in the broader European market—comprising the European Union, EFTA, and the UK—according to data released Tuesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). This represents a dramatic 162.3% increase from the 6,844 units registered in February 2025.
Tesla, by contrast, saw its European registrations reach 17,664 units in February, a more modest year-on-year rise of 11.8%. While this marked a return to growth for the US automaker after a difficult January, it was still narrowly outpaced by BYD.
This performance lifted both companies to an equal 1.8% market share in the broader European market, a significant gain for BYD from 0.7% a year earlier, while Tesla edged up from 1.6%.
Diverging Trajectories in the EU Market
When looking exclusively at the European Union market, the divergence in growth trajectories becomes even more pronounced. BYD’s EU registrations in February skyrocketed 185.3% to 15,438 units, boosting its market share from 0.6% to 1.8% over the same period last year.
Tesla’s EU registrations also grew, rising 29.1% to 13,740 units, increasing its market share from 1.2% to 1.6% year-on-year.
It is important to note that BYD’s figures include its expanding lineup of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models, whereas Tesla’s sales are exclusively battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Cementing the Early 2026 Lead
The cumulative data for the first two months of 2026 shows BYD solidifying its regional advantage. Year-to-date registrations in the broader European market stand at 36,069 units for BYD, a 162.7% increase from the same period in 2025. Tesla’s cumulative registrations reached 25,753 units, a slight 0.9% rise year-on-year.
The broader market context shows overall new car registrations in the EU fell by 1.2% in the first two months, easing the challenging start to the year seen in January.
However, the shift toward electrification continues. BEV market share in the EU reached 18.8% in February, up from 15.2% a year ago. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) remain the dominant powertrain choice, holding a 38.7% market share, while the combined share for petrol and diesel vehicles declined sharply to 30.6% from 38.7%.
👉 Contact Nanjing iCheLaba Motor today for a wholesale quote!
