It’s a grim day for Tesla fans, and I’d wager that somewhere in California, a few trendy coders have spilled their decaf latte over their MacBooks. The once-unassailable king of electric cars has been knocked off its throne, and not by some glitzy newcomer with a name like a Wi-Fi password. No, Tesla has been overtaken by – brace yourself – Skoda and BMW. Yes, the Czech budget champ and the Bavarian luxury lord have given Elon Musk’s dream machine a proper kick in the bumper. What’s going on in Europe, where Tesla’s electric showpieces seem to be in freefall?
Let’s rewind for a moment. For years, Tesla ruled the electric vehicle world. With the Model S, Model 3, and later the Model Y, it felt like they had the market in a chokehold. These weren’t just electric cars; they were cool. They had screens the size of a cinema, accelerated faster than a rocket in a hurry, and gave off that futuristic vibe that made you feel like you were driving in a sci-fi flick. But now? Tesla’s shine seems to have dulled, and European buyers have set their sights on other brands.
The numbers don’t lie. In the first quarter of 2025, Volkswagen sold more electric cars in Europe than Tesla, with a whopping 65,679 units compared to Tesla’s 53,237. That’s a 38% drop for Tesla, while VW saw a 157% surge. But it gets worse. BMW, with its sleek i4 and iX, climbed to third place with 46,557 EVs sold, up 21%. And then there’s Skoda, the underdog no one saw coming. With models like the Enyaq iV – practical, affordable, and, let’s be honest, surprisingly charming – Skoda has snatched Tesla’s lunch money and bought an extra battery pack with it.
So, why is Tesla sliding downhill? The answer is a cocktail of factors, and it doesn’t taste like victory. First off, Tesla’s lineup is getting a bit… stale. The Model Y and Model 3 are still decent cars, but they’re no longer the fresh-faced newcomers they once were. The competition hasn’t been idle. Skoda offers the Enyaq at a price that wouldn’t even get you an options pack from Tesla. BMW, meanwhile, sprinkles its signature premium polish on its EVs, with interiors that feel like a first-class lounge rather than a minimalist tech lab. And then you’ve got Renault, Audi, and even Kia, all rolling out sharp, new models that are shaking up the market.
Then there’s the other elephant in the room: Elon Musk himself. The man once hailed as a visionary pioneer is starting to look, to some Europeans, like an unhinged Twitter troll. His political outbursts, flirtations with controversial figures, and tendency to meddle in everything from American elections to European politics have done the brand no favors. In countries like Germany and France, where buyers are sensitive to brand image, this has put a serious dent in Tesla’s appeal. A British survey found that 59% of EV buyers are steering clear of Tesla because of Musk’s antics. Ouch.
But let’s not kick a brand that’s already down too hard. Tesla still has an ace up its sleeve: innovation. The recent launch of the revamped Model Y Juniper in China was a hit, with over 43,370 units sold in March alone. In Europe, the Model 3 Long Range RWD boasts a 702-kilometer range, enough to silence even the most range-anxious drivers. Plus, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is on track for approval for limited autonomous driving on European highways starting in September 2025. That’s the kind of tech the competition can only dream of.
Still, it’s not all sunshine and roses. The European market is brutal, and the competition is fierce. Chinese brands like BYD and Leapmotor are pushing in with affordable, well-equipped EVs that ramp up the price pressure even more. BYD is even planning to roll out a network of ultra-fast charging stations with up to 1,360 kW of power. That’s the kind of ambition Tesla used to have, but now it feels like they’re playing catch-up.
What does Tesla need to do to bounce back? A fresh breeze through its lineup wouldn’t hurt. A compact, affordable EV for European city dwellers, for instance, instead of ever-bigger, pricier SUVs. A less controversial CEO wouldn’t go amiss either, but let’s be real: Musk isn’t going anywhere. And maybe, just maybe, Tesla should take a look at what Skoda’s doing so well: making a car that’s not just electric, but also practical, affordable, and – dare I say it? – a bit lovable.
For now, one thing is clear: Tesla’s glory days in Europe are over, and the EV crown has been handed to brands that are trying harder. Whether Tesla fights back depends on how quickly they get their act together. Until then, we can only enjoy this unexpected plot twist in the world of electric cars.
Looking for your own 100% electric dream car? Check out our marketplace, where you can explore and buy a wide range of electric vehicles: https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/.
