The Tesla Model Y outrageously breaks all records in Europe

If the Tesla Model Y remains the best-selling car in Europe in September, the brand faces very tough competition from MG. The Chinese firm places itself on the 2nd step of the podium with its low-cost electric compact.

With more than a million cars sold worldwide last year and a record already broken in 2023, everything seems to be going well for Tesla. And for good reason, the manufacturer still remains at the top of sales, whether in France or in Europe. So much so that the Model Y was even the most registered car on the Old Continent, all engines combined, in September.

A confirmed success

A position further confirmed by figures from the specialist firm Jato this time, which has just revealed the detailed ranking of best-selling cars in the country. Unsurprisingly, the electric SUV is still at the top of registrations, with no less than 29,309 units recorded in September. A figure down very slightly by 1% compared to the previous year.

A success that we owe in particular to the price reductions made since the start of the year, which allow the Model Y to remain eligible for the ecological bonus of 5,000 euros. Which should still be the case next year, when the SUV is assembled in Germany, within the Berlin Gigafactory. An asset which should allow it to gain a head start over its Chinese rivals.

Because if Tesla has been doing very well for several years, specialists still predicted that the brand would be seriously disrupted by rivals from the Middle Kingdom in 2023. It is true that since the start of the year, the firm faces increasing Chinese competition, with companies such as BYD poised to overtake it. This is already the case if we take hybrid models into account.

But another competitor also worries Tesla. This is MG, now belonging to the Chinese group SAIC, which has been a hit in Europe since the launch of its MG4, priced at less than 30,000 euros and chasing directly into the territory of the Model 3. A success such as the Chinese compact even overtook its American competitor last May, before the latter took the lead again in August. But it was short-lived.

French progress

In fact, in September,a MG4 has moved far ahead of the Tesla Model 3 so much so that the electric sedan does not even appear in the top 10 registrations. The Chinese compact saw its sales climb 887% in one year, while 7,313 units were sold in one month. But this does not necessarily mean that its American competitor is out of competition.

And for good reason, you should know that the latter is produced in China and the United States, and that deliveries are made according to the filling of the boats. This explains the seesaw figures, which can be very different from one month to the next. The domination of the MG4 could therefore only be temporary, even if Tesla must still keep an eye on this rival.

Especially since the Asian manufacturer plans to produce the latter on the Old Continent, which could allow it to keep its ecological bonus next year, and therefore a more affordable price. The compact must, however, be careful of the French competition, while the Peugeot e-208, which we were recently able to discover, is placed on the 3rd step of the podium with 6,637 examples and sales up 62%.

It is followed by the Fiat 500e as well as the Volkswagen ID.4, down 9% while the manufacturer struggles to fill the order book. Do customers prefer the Skoda Enyaq, its more affordable cousin? Without doubt, as the latter’s figures show, with sales up 29% and more than 6,000 units sold in September.

As a reminder, the Tesla Model Y is sold from 45,990 euros. With the bonus, this increases the price to 40,990 euros. For comparison, the MG4 starts from 29,990 euros.

Electric car sales Europe September 2023