Although 2024 was full of challenges and uncertainties in the automotive industry, car sales on the old continent grew by 0.8% (10.6 million), compared to 2023. However, the beginning of 2025 did not continue on that path. In January, 1.9% fewer cars (993,068 units) were registered.

If we look at individual brands, Volkswagen is the leader with 112,000 new vehicles sold (+17 percent compared to January 2024), which is an outstanding result because second-place Toyota sold only 69,966 units. It should also be noted that other brands, such as BMW with 59,859 vehicles sold or Skoda with 58,959 registrations, had a successful start to the year. Skoda could even overtake the Bavarian manufacturer by the end of 2025.

Volkswagen’s biggest assets were its ID models, such as the Volkswagen ID.4, which became the best-selling electric car in Europe with a growth of almost 200 percent, leaving behind the Tesla Model Y. As for other models, the Volkswagen ID.7 came in third with a growth of 657 percent, while the KIA EV3 finished in fourth place. Among small electric cars, the Dacia Spring achieved good results, which was seventh, and the new Renault 5 in eighth place.

The biggest loser was Tesla, with only 9,913 units sold, which is 45 percent less than in January 2024. This was mainly due to Elon Musk’s controversial statements and lower demand for the Model Y.

Source: Jato Dynamics