BYD makes quick progress in the European EV market

EV sales in Europe have continued to charge forward, with a year-on-year uptick of 27.1% between January and September. According to EV Volumes, a combined total of 2,720,459 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were sold.

This growth was spearheaded by a 34% improvement in the third quarter, as 926,519 new EVs were delivered.

So far this year, PHEVs have recorded greater growth rates than BEVs. EV Volumes does include extended-range electric vehicles in its plug-in hybrid figures. PHEVs enjoyed a 31.5% rise in demand during the first nine months of 2025, with 919,112 deliveries. This is an improvement from the 21.7% growth in the first half of the year.

Monthly PHEV volumes have ramped up throughout 2025, peaking with a 55.7% increase in September, reaching 130,179 sales. This marked the powertrain's best year-on-year growth since June 2021, and its highest monthly figure since December 2022.

This means PHEV's share of the EV market increased to a 33.8% slice between January and September. This was a 1.1 percentage point (pp) rise from its position during the same period of 2024.

BEVs saw greater volumes across the first three quarters of the year. A total of 1,801,347 all-electric models took to European roads from January to September. This was an improvement of 25% year on year.

The technology saw 257,297 deliveries in September alone, capping a ninth consecutive month of double-digit growth. This was its highest monthly total since December 2022 and marked a 20.3% increase compared to one year prior.

So, with growth in almost every month so far this year for both powertrains, which brands have capitalised, and which have fallen behind?

Chinese brands increase EV share

Chinese brands have undoubtedly increased their EV presence in Europe. Many carmakers from the country have seen their market shares rise this year, as volumes have surged.

One example is BYD, which recorded a 302.6% year-on-year EV sales improvement over the first three quarters of 2025. This means out of the top 10 best-selling EV brands in Europe this year, it is comfortably the fastest-growing.