Dacia Sandero Surpasses Tesla Model Y to Become Europe’s Best-Selling Car of 2024, While BYD Outperforms Alfa and Subaru | Carscoops

      The Tesla Model Y has fallen from its leading position, benefiting the Dacia Sandero’s rise, as Chinese brands began to make their mark.

      The Tesla Model Y has dropped from first to fourth place on Europe's 2024 best-selling vehicles list.

      The Dacia Sandero now holds the top position, followed by the Renault Clio and VW Golf.

      BYD has outperformed Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, and Subaru, while Xpeng has also shown strong sales.

      While the European automotive market is known for its luxury sedans, SUVs, and high-end supercars, the list of 2024's best-selling cars indicates that consumers in Europe prefer more economical options. The most-purchased vehicle last year was the simple, ICE-only Dacia Sandero, which starts at approximately $13,400.

      Dacia achieved sales of 268,101 Sanderos, marking a 14 percent increase from 2023. Renault, which owns Dacia, secured second place with the Clio, showing a 7 percent rise to 216,317 units sold, closely followed by the VW Golf at 215,715, which rose by 17 percent compared to the previous year.

      Tesla’s Model Y, previously the top seller in 2023, fell to fourth place with sales decreasing by 17 percent to 209,214 units in a year when overall vehicle sales increased by 0.9 percent to 12.9 million. No other vehicle in the top 30 saw a decline in sales as significant, with most showing growth, according to Jato Dynamics data.

      The challenges faced by the Model Y can be attributed to a general decrease in EV sales in Europe (though by just 1.2 percent), the vehicle being in the market for a while, and buyers anticipating a potential facelift. Additionally, some prospective buyers may have been deterred by controversial comments from Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, including his support for far-right political parties in Germany.

      Despite the limited impact of Chinese-branded vehicles in the top 50 best-selling models, with MG's ZS at number 34 being the sole exception, this could change soon based on current brand sales trends.

      Volkswagen, Toyota, BMW, Skoda, and Mercedes dominated the top five positions, all experiencing slight growth (with just 1 percent increase for VW and Benz). However, below these brands, there are signs of significant future shifts in the European automobile sector.

      BYD's sales surged by 216 percent to 50,265, surpassing Alfa Romeo (44,777 units) and Subaru (22,458). KG Mobility's sales grew by 30 percent to 23,836. Omada made its entry with 14,254 cars sold, while Xpeng’s 8,188 registrations reflected a 304 percent increase.

      Not all Chinese brands performed well, as Lynk & Co saw a 73 percent decline and Ora a 41 percent fall, but the takeaway for Europe’s established automakers is clear: the Chinese presence is no longer on the horizon; it is already evident. You can find the complete model and brand sales tables below.

      Europe Best Selling Models 2024

      Europe Brand Sales 2024