BYD Germany Sales Surge 1000%, More Than Double Tesla's

On Feb. 4, Bloomberg reported that BYD's sales in Germany, Europe's largest electric vehicle market, surged more than tenfold year-on-year last month as the company continues to expand in the country.

According to data released by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority on Wednesday, BYD sold 2,629 new vehicles in Germany in January, an increase of over 1,000% compared to just 235 vehicles a year earlier, and more than double the 1,301 registrations by Tesla.

Having surpassed Tesla in sales in Germany and the UK last year, BYD is further widening its lead over Tesla. Amidst the intense electric vehicle price war in China, Chinese brands such as MG (SAIC Motor), Leapmotor, and Xpeng have been continuously expanding in Europe in recent months, increasing competitive pressure on established automakers. As Europe's largest market, Germany has become a crucial battleground.

Tesla has been struggling across the European market as CEO Elon Musk's political activities have drawn consumer backlash. The company needs to contend with increasing competition from Chinese brands and local manufacturers, with automakers like Volkswagen, Renault, and BMW all expanding their electric vehicle lineups.

Although Tesla's German sales in January this year edged up 1.9% year-on-year, this increase was built on the low base of a sharp drop in sales at the beginning of last year. In fact, Tesla's weakness in the European market has continued into the new year, with registrations in France falling to their lowest level in more than three years, and Norway, a highlight market last year, suffering a massive 88% sales slump in January.