Registrations of electric vehicles made by Tesla rose sharply across several European markets in May, extending the company’s recovery in the region after a challenging start to the year.
New registrations, which serve as a proxy for sales, increased by 655 per cent year-on-year to 5,446 vehicles in France and by 29 per cent to 3,345 vehicles in Norway, Reuters reported.
The recovery was also evident in several smaller European markets. Tesla registrations climbed 136 per cent to 1,750 vehicles in Denmark, 113 per cent to 1,690 vehicles in Spain, 349 per cent to 1,463 vehicles in Portugal and 71 per cent to 858 vehicles in Sweden.
In Italy, registrations declined 23.5 per cent from a year earlier to 654 vehicles in May. However, Tesla’s sales in the country remained more than 15 per cent higher during the first five months of the year compared with the same period in 2025.
The gains come amid continued growth in Europe’s electric vehicle market. Registrations of electrified vehicles across the region increased by about 21 per cent in April from a year earlier and accounted for more than two-thirds of all vehicle registrations. Industry data showed demand was supported by government policies, subsidies and higher fuel prices that encouraged consumers to shift toward lower-emission vehicles.
According to Rico Luman, senior economist at ING Research, Tesla’s sales are benefiting from the rapid expansion of the battery electric vehicle market, particularly in Scandinavian countries, as well as stronger adoption in markets such as Spain that had previously lagged behind.
TP ICAP Midcap analyst Julien Thomas said the latest figures reflect Tesla’s increasingly aggressive position in the electric vehicle segment, supported by its pricing strategy and manufacturing capabilities.
He noted that the Model Y continues to attract strong demand in the sport utility vehicle segment by offering a competitive combination of price and driving range at a time when buyers remain highly sensitive to vehicle costs.
Monthly registration figures from Britain and Germany, Europe’s two largest automotive markets, are expected later this week.
Despite the recent rebound, Tesla lost nearly half of its European market share during 2025 as competition intensified, particularly from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. The company also faced challenges from a limited pipeline of new models and consumer reactions to the political positions of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.
