In 2025, Volkswagen surpassed Tesla in the European market for fully-electric vehicle (EV) sales, marking a significant shift in the automotive landscape. According to JATO Dynamics, Volkswagen's sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe increased by 56%, reaching 274,278 units, while Tesla's sales fell by 27% to 236,357 units. This development is seen as a setback for Tesla, which also lost its global EV leadership to China's BYD the previous year. The Tribune Latest highlights that Tesla's "small, ageing car lineup" and CEO Elon Musk's controversial political stances have contributed to its declining performance in Europe. The European EV market overall saw a 29% increase in registrations, indicating a growing consumer shift towards electric mobility (Tribune Latest, February 05, 2026).