New registrations of Tesla vehicles rose in multiple European countries in May, continuing a recovery in the U.S. electric vehicle maker’s sales across the region. National registration compilations released on Monday show sizeable year-on-year gains in several markets, while results were mixed in others.
Country-level data
- France: Registrations increased 655% year on year to 5,446 vehicles, according to French car body PFA.
- Norway: Registrations rose 29% to 3,345 vehicles, based on figures from Norwegian compiler OFV.
- Denmark: Registrations climbed 136% from a year earlier to 1,750 vehicles, data from bilstatistik.dk showed.
- Spain: Registrations increased 113% to 1,690 vehicles, according to ANFAC.
- Portugal: Registrations jumped 349% to 1,463 vehicles, per ACAP.
- Sweden: Registrations rose 71% to 858 vehicles, based on Mobility Sweden's figures.
- Italy: May registrations declined 23.5% from the prior year to 654 vehicles, although Tesla’s deliveries in Italy rose by more than 15% in the first five months of the year compared with 2025.
Across Europe, electrified vehicle registrations in April were up about 21% from the prior year and represented more than two-thirds of total registrations, the European auto lobby ACEA reported. That rise was attributed to policy measures, subsidies and higher fuel costs, which have influenced buyers toward lower-emission cars.
Economists and analysts cited in the data commentary pointed to structural market dynamics driving Tesla’s rebound. Rico Luman, senior economist at ING Research, said Tesla’s market share has been shrinking, but overall expansion of the battery electric vehicle market is lifting the company’s sales. Luman highlighted accelerating adoption in Scandinavia and a catch-up effect in previously lagging markets such as Spain as contributing factors.
TP ICAP Midcap analyst Julien Thomas noted that Tesla has taken an increasingly assertive position in the core EV market, supported by its pricing approach and manufacturing strengths. He added that the Model Y is capturing strong demand in the SUV segment, offering a balance of price and driving range at a time when buyers remain sensitive to price.
Britain and Germany - Europe’s two largest car markets - are scheduled to publish their monthly registration data later in the week, which will offer further clarity on Tesla’s trajectory across the continent.
Despite the recent uptick in registrations, Tesla lost almost half of its European market share in 2025. The change in share was attributed in the reporting to rising competition, particularly from Chinese brands, the absence of new model introductions from Tesla, and market reaction to comments by the company’s CEO, Elon Musk.
These figures show Tesla benefiting from a growing European EV market, while still facing competitive and reputational headwinds that have reduced its share of the region’s plug-in market.