June 25, 2024 – After making history as the first electric vehicle to top European sales charts in 2023, the Tesla Model Y has seen a dramatic reversal in its fortunes just a few months later. According to recent data from Dataforce, the Model Y’s sales in Europe dropped by 49% in May 2024 compared to the same period last year, with only 10,582 units sold. This significant decline has caused the once-champion vehicle to tumble from the top spot to a distant 18th place in the sales rankings.
The reasons behind this slump are multifaceted. European consumers’ enthusiasm for purchasing electric vehicles has waned, possibly due to the withdrawal of subsidies in some countries and delivery disruptions caused by the strike of Swedish dockworkers, among other factors, which have collectively impacted Tesla’s ability to meet demand.
Interestingly, Tesla’s misfortune has been Volkswagen’s gain. In May, two of Volkswagen’s models secured the top two positions in the sales charts. Despite being introduced in 2017 and awaiting a refresh, the T-Roc saw a 12% year-on-year sales increase, currently placing it at the forefront of the European market. The newly revamped Volkswagen Golf, a long-time favorite in Europe, made a strong comeback in second place. The Golf, which had been facing declining sales due to shifting consumer preferences towards crossovers and SUVs, received a much-needed interior redesign, addressing criticisms of the eighth-generation model’s controversial button layout. This redesign has paid off, with sales jumping by 28%.
The Dacia Sandero, which narrowly lost to the Model Y last year, maintains its strong performance in 2024, claiming the third spot in the rankings despite a 10% sales decrease to 18,676 units.
It’s important to note that the current sales figures are yet to be finalized. According to Auto News, as more market data becomes available, there’s a possibility that the Golf could surpass the T-Roc, claiming the top spot. The provisional figures indicate that the T-Roc sold 19,748 units, closely followed by the Golf with 19,333 units sold.
