The Renault 5 E-Tech has taken the lead as Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle in the first half of 2025, overtaking long-standing frontrunner Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen’s ID.3 in key markets, according to consultancy PwC’s Electric Vehicle Sales Review Q2-2025. The French automaker’s revival of its classic compact has found traction in Germany, France, Spain and Italy, marking a significant market breakthrough for Renault.
Figures from 40 markets compiled by PwC show battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales climbing sharply. Germany posted a 35% rise to 249,000 units, outpacing the United Kingdom in total volume, although the UK claimed a larger BEV market share of 22% compared with Germany’s 18%. Across Europe’s five largest markets, BEV registrations were up 25%, breaking the 1.2 million mark for the first time in a six-month span. Meanwhile, combustion engine registrations continued their downward slide, falling 24% and extending a decline that has lasted six consecutive quarters.
Volkswagen Group continues to dominate in product breadth, with six of Europe’s ten top-selling EVs from its VW, Skoda and Cupra brands. BMW’s iX1 also secured a strong position, while Citroën’s e-C3 is edging closer to the leaders.
The global picture remains heavily influenced by China, where BEV sales grew 42% to 3.7 million, representing 30% of the world market. In the United States, growth was more modest at 7.3%, with Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y anchoring sales momentum.
PwC’s automotive leader Felix Kuhnert said the European industry faces a pivotal moment. “Manufacturers must determine whether to commit fully to electrification or continue balancing investment with combustion engine technologies,” he noted, warning that reliance on Asian suppliers “continues to pose a significant challenge to Europe’s industrial base.”
Source: PwC