Tesla’s early-2026 European growth lagged fast-rising Chinese rivals, as BYD and SAIC widened their lead in a market still shifting towards EVs.
European car manufacturers’ latest data (ACEA) for February 2026 year-to-date data shows the wider EU market remains difficult, with total new car registrations down 1.2% to 1.66 million units, even as battery-electric volumes rose 22.3% to 312,369 and lifted BEV share to 18.8% from 15.2% a year earlier.
The figures highlight that EV demand is still growing, but not evenly across brands or countries.
For Tesla, the standout point is that its performance looks much less dominant than the wider BEV market.
In the EU alone, Tesla registrations rose 16.7% year to date to 20,941 units, taking a 1.3% market share
Across the broader EU, EFTA and UK region, Tesla was almost flat, up just 0.9% to 25,753 units. That suggests any recovery in core EU markets was largely offset elsewhere, particularly in non-EU Europe.
The February picture was a little stronger for Tesla than the year-to-date total suggests.
EU registrations were up 29.1% in the month to 13,740 units, while EU, EFTA and UK volume rose 11.8% to 17,664. Even so, Tesla still trailed both BYD and SAIC in February across the wider European region, underlining that its competitive advantage is narrowing.
Chinese OEMs continue to scale at speed
The clearest trend from the wider European figures is the speed at which Chinese brands are scaling.
BYD was up 179.2% year to date in the EU to 29,291 units, and up 162.7% across EU, EFTA and UK to 36,069.
SAIC, which includes MG, also grew, up 6.6% in the EU to 32,214 units and up 4.8% across the wider European region to 41,454.
ombined, BYD and SAIC delivered more than 61,500 registrations in the EU and more than 77,500 across Europe including the UK and EFTA, roughly three times Tesla’s volume in both comparisons.
That matters for UK dealers because it shows the European competitive set is continuing to evolve quickly. It also highlights the fact Tesla’s main focus is no longer competing for fleet and retail passenger car volumes.
Tesla is still growing in parts of the market, but the momentum is now stronger behind Chinese-owned or Chinese-based manufacturers that are expanding from a lower base and taking share much faster.
BYD’s rise is especially notable because it has moved from a marginal presence a year ago to a bigger player than Tesla in the EU year-to-date tables.
A second useful signal for retailers is that Chinese growth is not just a pure EV story.
The broader ACEA data shows hybrids remain the EU’s largest powertrain at 38.7% share, while plug-in hybrids have also strengthened to 9.8%.
That gives brands with broader electrified line-ups, or a more flexible pricing mix, more room to grow as private and business buyers continue to balance affordability, tax, infrastructure and residual value considerations.