March 24, 2026 – According to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, new car registrations in the European market in February 2026 saw a modest year-on-year increase of 1.7%, reaching 979,321 units.
Among them, BYD stood out prominently. In that month, its registrations hit 17,954 vehicles, a staggering 162.3% jump from the 6,844 units registered in the same period last year. With a mere 290-vehicle lead, BYD surpassed Tesla for the second consecutive month in terms of sales volume across the pan-European market (including the EU, EFTA, and the UK).
The gap between the two was even more pronounced in the core EU market.
BYD registered 15,438 vehicles in the EU in February, a remarkable 185.3% year-on-year surge, raising its market share to 1.8%. In contrast, Tesla sold 13,740 vehicles, a 29.1% growth, accounting for 1.6% of the market. BYD had a comprehensive advantage in both sales volume and growth rate.
Germany and Spain emerged as the key driving forces behind BYD’s growth.
In the German market, BYD registered 3,053 vehicles in February, a colossal 1550.3% year-on-year increase. Its brand ranking climbed to 19th place, and its pure electric vehicle sales surpassed Tesla’s 2,276 units for the same period.
In Spain, BYD sold 3,003 vehicles, a 203% year-on-year growth, capturing a 3.1% market share, a record high for the brand in the local market.
Behind this rapid sales growth lies the different product strategies of BYD and Tesla.
BYD has adopted a dual-track approach, focusing on both pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to cover a wider range of consumer scenarios. Tesla, on the other hand, has concentrated solely on the pure electric field, offering a relatively limited selection of models.
The European automotive market is currently experiencing a clear trend towards electrification. Pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles now account for over one-third of the market, while the share of fuel-powered vehicles has plummeted to 30.6%.
Subsidy policies in multiple countries have further accelerated the popularization of electric vehicles. Models like the BYD Dolphin have gained immense popularity due to their high cost-effectiveness, becoming the main contributors to BYD’s sales volume.
