Summary
- BMW outsells Tesla in Europe in terms of electric vehicles
- Volkswagen Group is the top-selling European EV automaker
- BMW’s range of electric vehicles is expanding
- Tesla’s Model Y remains the best-selling EV in Europe
- Elon Musk’s controversial social media activity is impacting Tesla’s image and sales prospect
Article
In the European market, BMW sold more electric vehicles than Tesla in the recent period, with 14,869 cars compared to Tesla’s 14,561. Despite Elon Musk’s controversial behavior on social media, some believe this may be the beginning of the end for Tesla, but the situation is not so straightforward. While BMW and Tesla are currently the top individual makers in Europe, multi-brand automakers like Volkswagen Group with brands like VW, Audi, Skoda, and Cupra, surpass both BMW and Tesla in EV sales.
BMW attributes part of its success to the variety of electric vehicles it offers compared to Tesla’s focus on the Model Y and Model 3. BMW’s range includes models like the iX1, iX2, iX3, iX, i5, and i7. The more premium i5 has been gaining traction, offering solid performance, comfortable ride, and capable range. BMW also benefits from owning the Mini brand, which recently updated its EV offerings. Tesla’s sales tend to be cyclical, with spikes at the end of each quarter, making the July results seem calm after the sales storm in June.
Despite potential concerns over Elon Musk’s controversial image, Tesla’s Model Y remains the leading EV model in Europe and globally, with 110,725 vehicles sold by the end of July. However, Tesla’s founder’s public persona has started to overshadow the quality of the cars, leading some to sell their Teslas due to dissatisfaction with Musk’s behavior. Despite this, the stock market does not seem concerned about Tesla’s direction, with share prices relatively stable.
BMW is looking towards the future with upcoming electric models like the Neue Klasse saloon car, inspired by the company’s history. This bold leap towards an all-electric future will include a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), possibly similar in size to the current iX3. The design of the Neue Klasse marks a return to classic BMW aesthetics, moving away from the oversized front grilles and angular designs of recent models. This new offering from BMW could help the company maintain its strong position in the electric market against competitors like Tesla.
While recent reports may suggest Tesla’s decline, sales are still healthy, though the gap between it and other automakers has narrowed. Chinese companies are also rapidly catching up in the electric vehicle market. BMW, with its diverse range of electric vehicles and upcoming models, may not always top the sales rankings against Tesla, but it seems like Tesla’s days of clear market dominance may be coming to an end.
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