After months of ups and downs, Tesla is back on top in Europe with the Model Y taking the crown as the best-selling car for September. Meanwhile, Chinese brands are quietly rewriting the rulebook, growing their market share at lightning speed. With MG, BYD, and Chery all posting big numbers, the European car market is starting to look very different.
Tesla’s Model Y made a big comeback last month with 25,938 units sold across Europe. That number pushed it past strong performers like the Renault Clio, Dacia Sandero, and VW T-Roc. While September’s performance was impressive, the Model Y still sits at 17th place for year to date sales with 109,793 units.
The rebound is especially striking considering the Model Y ranked just 17th in August and 60th in July. Tesla’s bounce back proves the brand still has strong appeal when demand aligns with delivery timing.
MG continues to lead the pack among Chinese brands in Europe. It sold 33,536 cars in September alone, up 77 percent compared to last year. Year to date, MG has already moved 225,334 vehicles. The MG ZS played a major role in that growth with nearly 95,000 sales so far in 2025.
Overall, cars from Chinese brands made up 7.4 percent of new car sales in Europe last month. That’s more than double the 3.3 percent share from the same time last year. It’s clear MG isn’t just surviving in Europe, it’s thriving.
Yes, and the numbers speak for themselves. BYD sold 24,336 vehicles in September, a huge leap from just 4,561 a year earlier. Its plug in hybrid SUV, the Seal U (also sold as the Sealion 6), is leading its push with over 55,000 units sold.
Chery isn’t far behind, posting 18,454 sales in September and 73,128 so far in 2025. With sub brands like Jaecoo and Omoda helping expand its reach, Chery is becoming a serious player in the region.
Started my career in Automotive Journalism in 2015. Even though I'm a pharmacist, hanging around cars all the time has created a passion for the automotive industry since day 1.
SHARE
