Top Selling EV Brands & Auto Groups in Europe — April Sales Report

After reporting on the top selling EV models in Europe in April, let’s now take a look at the auto brands and groups selling the most plugin vehicles.

Looking at the plugin auto brand ranking, the title could be Premium brands take a beating. Another possible, more predictable title could be Tesla crashes in Europe.

Looking closely at the month-on-month evolution, while Volkswagen continued its never ending rise and rise (11.2% in April vs. 10.8% in March), Tesla was is stark contrast with the German make, losing a full one percent share in just one month (5.4% now vs. 6.4% in March), all while dropping one spot to Volvo, which is now 4th.

True, this is an off-peak month, so a drop was expected, just not a full 1% in just one month. At this moment, the best that Tesla can expect in Europe is 3rd position by year end, and even that is not assured….

#2 BMW (9.2%, down from 9.3% in March) is now out of reach, and even #3 Mercedes (7.1%) seems too far to be surpassed.

This is an end of an era in the European plugin market. After three years of full Tesla domination, there are new brands calling the shots.

The best seller title should return to the previous owner, Volkswagen, winner in 2015, 2020, and 2021. Should VW win the 2025 title, it would then equal Tesla in the number of European manufacturer titles won. The Texan brand won in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Below the top 5, Renault (4.3%) was stable, but it was surpassed by fast growing Skoda nonetheless. The Czech brand rose from 4.2% in March to its current 4.7% share, and jumped two positions in just one month as a result — from 9th to 7th. Although #6 Audi (5.2%, up 0.1%) is also growing, it should be surpassed by Skoda in the coming months as the Czech make takes full profit from its new dynamic duo (Elroq and Enyaq).

Heck, even Tesla and Volvo will need to look behind themselves if they want to keep the Czechs outside the top 5!

A deserving mention also goes to BYD, which is already appearing on the radar with 3.8% share, a 0.3% increase over March.

But … Why are premium brands taking a beating?

Looking month over month doesn’t really indicate anything, but when we compare April 2025 standings with April 2024 standings, things become clearer. Tesla’s fall from grace continues to be the highlight (10.8% share then, 5.4% now — 1st place then, 5th place now). That is followed by Volkswagen’s return to form (6.4% share then, 11.2% now — 6th place then, 1st place now). Additionally, all three premium brands in the current top 5 have lost significant share compared to the same period of last year:

• #2 BMW is down from 10.3% a year ago to its current 9.2%;
• #3 Mercedes dropped from 9.4% in April 2024 to 7.1% now;
• #4 Volvo is down from 8.6% then to its current 5.9%.

Oh, and Audi has dropped from 5th a year ago to its current spot of 6th.

This is a positive sign for the market, as it means that mainstream brands — which are the ones on top of the European overall market (the April podium is #1 Volkswagen, #2 Toyota, #3 Skoda) — are finally claiming their natural positions.

Now, we need Toyota to step up its plugin sales game….

Arranging things by automotive group, Volkswagen Group is firmly in the lead, having gained 1.1% share in April. It rose to 27.6% share, a market share that is comparable to BYD’s in China and Tesla’s in the USA. This is an important metric for the German conglomerate if it wants to stay relevant in a fully electrified global automotive market.

If you can’t win at home….

BMW Group (10.8%, down from 11% in March) remained in the runner-up position in April, while #3 Stellantis is still on its long hard road in hell (9.7% in April vs. 9.8% in March vs 13.2% a year ago). With the multinational conglomerate having recently announced a new CEO, Antonio Filosa, I wish him all the luck. He is going to need it….

Hyundai–Kia (8.1%) remained in 4th, while Geely (7.8%) kept its 5th position.

Outside the top 5, we should highlight the paradoxical moment of Renault and its standing in the Renault–Nissan Alliance. While Renault held steady at 4.3% share in April, the Alliance lost 0.2% share in the same period (6.6% in April vs. 6.8% in March).

This is further proof that Renault is pulling deadweights on its back (Nissan and Mitsubishi). Sure, the end of production of the Nissan LEAF probably had something to do with this, and once the new Leaf lands, early next year, sales will likely rebound. They will also be helped by the launch of the new Nissan Micra.

But … maybe Renault would be better off searching for new partners? Say … Mercedes? That would be an association that could work, as they play in different market segments. Even the sporty Alpine wouldn’t step too much on Mercedes’ toes. Meanwhile, they could increase the scale of both players, something they both need. Badly.

And speaking of scale … if one was to add Geely’s platforms, scale/costs, and tech to the mix, it could become the perfect three-way deal. That would allow Geely to add even more scale as it tries to reach BYD’s levels of scalability.

Of course, an RGM (Renault–Geely–Mercedes) Alliance would clearly be impossible, as their shareholders simply wouldn’t allow it, but a deepening of the links already in place between these three players is possible. That would allow them to strengthen the signature elements of their businesses (Renault — cost advantages and technology; Mercedes — access to technology and know-how of a leading player in China, allowing them a chance to stay there; Geely — increased scale and better access to Europe).

Also see: Europe EV Sales Report — Sales Surge 33% YoY! *