BYD achieved this milestone even as the EU slaps a 27% tariff on China-made EVs, with growth driven by the budget-friendly Dolphin Surf. BYD climbed to eighth place in Europe’s battery electric vehicle rankings in January, overtaking Tesla, after deliveries nearly doubled year on year, according to preliminary data from Dataforce. Top-selling EV brands in Europe for January 2026 The Chinese automaker delivered 8,711 pure electric vehicles in Europe in January, up 94% from a year earlier. Its ranking advanced from 14th to eighth, making it the first Chinese brand to enter Europe’s top ten EV manufacturers. BYD achieved this milestone even as the EU slaps a 27% tariff on China-made EVs, with growth driven by affordable models. The Dolphin Surf, marketed as Seagull in China, delivered 3,007 units during the month, accounting for more than 30% of total volume. BYD Dolphin Surf The Sealion 7 recorded 1,909 deliveries, while the Seal contributed 1,310 units. In France, for example, the Dolphin Surf starts at €18,990 ($22,420), significantly below the Tesla Model 3 at €36,990 ($43,670) and also undercutting the Renault 5 at €21,370 ($25,230). The price differential has been a direct catalyst for volume expansion. By contrast, Tesla’s market share in Europe continued to erode. The company fell six positions to tenth place, selling 7,794 vehicles in January, down 17% YoY. Model-level performance diverged sharply. Model 3 deliveries dropped from 3,410 units a year earlier to 1,119 units, a decline of nearly two-thirds. Tesla Model 3 Model Y deliveries increased from 5,802 to 6,601 units, but the gain was insufficient to offset the broader downturn. Tesla’s sustained slide in Europe can be partly attributed to CEO Elon Musk’s far-right political positioning, as well as to an aging product lineup that has gradually lost competitiveness against increasingly intelligent models introduced by European and Chinese manufacturers. From a broader market perspective, electrification penetration in Europe continues to rise. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that overall new car registrations in January declined 3.5% YoY, while the share of BEVs increased to 19.3%, up five percentage points from a year earlier. VW ID.3 Among other European brands, Volkswagen remained the top EV seller with 17,230 units, although that figure was down 16% from a year earlier. The ID.3 led the brand’s portfolio with 5,417 deliveries. Renault climbed five positions to second place, with BEV sales surging 65% to 14,447 units. Skoda advanced six places to third, with sales jumping 91% to 14,022 units.
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