17 July 2025
The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) market continued its consistent growth in Europe, while plug-in hybrid (PHEV) volumes are accelerating. But which non-European brands are leading the figures? Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, analyses the figures from EV Volumes.
Registrations of BEVs in Europe increased once again during May, with a 26.9% rise year on year. A total of 194,849 new all-electric models were delivered in the month, equating to an increase of 41,260 units compared with May 2024. The performance continued the powertrain’s perfect growth streak in 2025.
Meanwhile, PHEVs enjoyed an even stronger surge of 46.9% in May, with 108,865 registrations. This was the powertrain’s biggest monthly improvement since August 2021 and represented a year-on-year gain of 34,741 units.
The result also marked a further ramp-up from April’s 30.6% improvement, which in turn was a strong uptick from March’s 18.6% growth.
Consequently, PHEVs had a stronger hold on the EV market in May compared to 12 months prior. The powertrain’s share rose by 3.2 percentage points (pp) year on year to 35.8%, while BEVs dropped to 64.2%.
Strong EV growth
BEV volumes increased by 27.7% across the first five months of the year, thanks to consistent growth. With a total of 960,550 new models delivered to customers, the technology has recorded over 208,424 more registrations compared to the same period last year.
Due to declines in January and February, growth in the PHEV still lags slightly behind its plug-in counterpart. However, the powertrain still posted a double-digit improvement in the five-month period, with an 18% improvement to 475,874 units.
Therefore, BEVs increased their share of the plug-in market by 1.8pp compared to the same period in 2024, with 66.9% of total EV registrations. On the other hand, PHEVs accounted for 33.1% of volumes.
European EV normality resumed?
The Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best-selling BEV in May. This was its third success of 2025. However, its 10,260-unit total was 8.8% down year on year. This gave the crossover a 5.3% market share, down from 7.3%.
Following the US model was a string of Volkswagen (VW) Group entries. After its triumph in April, the Skoda Elroq was second, with 9,247 registrations. This was the compact SUV’s highest-ever monthly volume after entering the market in November 2024. It captured 4.7% of overall BEV deliveries in May.
The VW ID.4 took third, enjoying an 11.2% registration rise compared to May 2024 with 6,689 deliveries. This gave it a 3.4% market hold, yet this was down by 0.5pp due to increased competition in the all-electric market.
Its stablemate, the ID.7, was just 48 units behind, with 6,641 new models registered. This represented a 354.9% improvement year on year. Meanwhile, its share increased to 3.4% from 1%.
Then came the VW ID.3, posting 6,452 units. This represented a 12.6% improvement year on year. The hatchback made up 3.3% of the BEV market, down from 3.7%.
This means that the three best-selling models in ID. range have appeared in the top 10 every month so far this year. Moreover, the ID.4, ID.7 and ID.3 have recorded perfect year-on-year growth streaks in 2025.
New EVs emerging
The Skoda Enyaq secured sixth, with 5,657 registrations and a 2.9% share. The delivery total was up 6% compared to May 2024, while its market hold fell by 0.6pp. Next up was the Kia EV3, which posted 5,464 deliveries on its way to seventh position. The compact SUV represented 2.8% of overall BEV volumes in its eighth month of registrations.
The combined total of the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 landed in eighth, thanks to 5,269 deliveries. The two hatchbacks took a 2.7% share after first entering the market in June 2024. Audi’s Q6 e-tron followed behind, with 5,173 deliveries, accounting for 2.7% of overall volumes.
The BMW iX1 concluded May’s top 10, registering 4,755 new models. This equated to a marginal 0.7% gain year on year. The compact SUV captured 2.4% of the market, down from 3.1%. However, it made the table by a fine margin, with the Audi Q4 e-tron ending the month just 6 units behind.
VW’s proof of I.D
Across the first five months of the year, the Tesla Model Y was Europe’s best-selling BEV. The crossover recorded a total of 45,193 registrations and a 4.7% share from January to May. Subsequently, it had a comfortable lead of 11,817 units over its closest competitor, the VW ID.4.
The current runner-up delivered 33,376 units to customers in the year to date, giving it a 3.5% market hold.
It was joined by its stablemate, the ID.7, in the top three. The model moved up from fifth, making it the first time this year that two VW models had featured in the year-to-date top three. The SUV accounted for 3.4% of total BEV volumes, with 32,206 registrations.
There was a closely contested battle for fourth, with Skoda Enyaq maintaining the position thanks to 31,200 units. This translated to a 3.2% market hold.
The VW ID.3 trailed by 413 deliveries. It recorded 30,787 registrations between January and May, and held 3.2% of the market. The hatchback jumped two spots in the table from April. This meant that four of Europe’s top five best-selling BEVs in the first five months of 2025 were VW Group models.
Tesla Model 3 plummets
Just 111 units behind was the combined total of the Renault 5 and Alpine A290. This meant 524 deliveries separated fourth to sixth places. The hatchbacks recorded 30,676 registrations, which also gave them a 3.2% share.
Kia’s EV3 claimed seventh, moving up one position from April. It represented 3.1% of overall BEV volumes, with 29,562 units.
After sitting in third at the end of April, the Tesla Model 3 plummeted to eighth in the best-sellers table. The sedan struggled to generate volume in the month, finishing 15th in May’s standings, after a 24th-place finish in April.
The Audi Q4 e-tron claimed ninth, with 26,479 units and a 2.8% share. This was followed by the BMW iX1, recording a 2.5% market hold and 24,190 deliveries. However, the Skoda Elroq could soon demote the German model out of the top 10, as it sits just 102 units behind.
Seal the deal
For the first time ever, BYD led Europe’s PHEV market. This was thanks to its Seal U SUV, which achieved 6,069 registrations and a 5.6% share. The result comes after two second place finishes in March and April.
The Chinese model had a 731-unit lead over the VW Tiguan, which recorded 5,338 deliveries. This represented growth of 950.8%, as it compared to a time of low volume for the model as it underwent a facelift. The result gave the PHEV a 4.9% market hold, up from 0.7%.
Rounding out the top three was the Volvo XC60. It posted 4,535 deliveries in May, down by 15% year on year. This result came after its third win of the year in April. It captured 4.2% of total PHEV volumes, a drop of 3pp from one year prior.
Then came the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Its registrations improved by 11.7% to 3,649 units, marking its highest monthly volume of 2025 so far. The SUV took a 3.4% share, down 1pp from May 2024 due to increased competition.
Record EV model results
The Toyota CH-R came fifth, with 3,548 deliveries. This was the SUV’s highest-ever registration total after entering the market in February 2024. The PHEV saw volumes rise by 269.2% compared to 12 months prior, as it took a 3.3% market hold, up by 2pp.
Securing sixth was the Ford Kuga. It enjoyed a 33.4% increase to 3,465 deliveries. This translated to a 3.2% share, down from 3.5%. Just 17 units behind was the BMW X1, with 3,448 registrations, its biggest monthly volume of 2025 so far. This was a year-on-year growth of 15%. However, its share dropped by 0.8pp to 3.2%.
MG’s eHS landed in eighth. The PHEV recorded a 248.4% improvement compared to May 2024, thanks to 3,062 deliveries. The SUV accounted for 2.8% of the market, up from 1.2%.
The Audi A3 followed in ninth, with 2,738 units, a 22.4% rise year on year. This was the model’s highest monthly volume since March 2024. It made up for 2.5% of overall registrations, up by 0.5pp.
VW’s Golf closed out the top 10, recording 2,594 registrations. This was a 369.1% growth compared to one year prior. The PHEV posted a 2.4% share in May, up from 0.7%.
A four-way PHEV battle?
In the year-to-date table, the Volvo XC60 continued to lead Europe’s PHEV market. It recorded 24,468 deliveries and a 5.1% market hold from January to May.
However, finishing one place behind its closest competitor in May, and a first-time monthly market leader making up ground, taking this year’s title will not be easy.
The VW Tiguan sat second, trailing first by 1,485 units, with 22,983 registrations. Despite not leading a single month so far this year, the SUV’s consistency of not finishing lower than fourth has helped to maintain its position. It took a 4.8% share of the PHEV total.
Moving up into third was the BYD Seal U. After starting the year with 14th and sixth place finishes in January and February respectively, it has slowly crept up the table.
It posted 21,043 deliveries in the first five months of 2025, while making up 4.4% of volumes. If it can continue to produce strong results, it could challenge for the top spot by the end of the year.
Even though it dropped to fourth in May, the Ford Kuga still has an outside chance of taking the 2025 title. It is the only other model to record a monthly win this year. The PHEV took 19,337 registrations across the first five months, giving it a 4.1% share.
PHEVs swap positions
The Toyota C-HR landed fifth, thanks to 15,723 units and a 3.3% market hold. Then came the BMW X1, which moved into sixth. The SUV represented 3% of total PHEV deliveries, with 14,416 registrations.
This demoted the Cupra Formentor to seventh, with 13,364 registrations and a 2.8% share. After two strong results in April and May, the Mercedes-Benz GLC re-entered the table in eighth, thanks to 12,125 deliveries. The SUV captured 2.5% of overall volumes.
Fellow German model, the BMW 5-Series, dropped one position to ninth, just 80 units behind its competitor. The PHEV also took a 2.5% share, with 12,045 registrations.
The Hyundai Tucson fell to 10th, posting 11,424 deliveries, which translated to a 2.4% market hold. The model has not featured in the monthly top 10 since February. Unless it picks up pace, it could be at risk of dropping out of the table, as the MG eHS sits just 38 units behind.
