These Were Europe’s Best-Selling Cars Last Month

European Car Sales Report for August 2025

Last month, Europe witnessed a significant surge in car sales, with a total of 790,177 units sold, marking a 5% increase compared to August 2024. The Volkswagen T-Roc emerged as the best-selling car, with 14,693 units sold, representing a 14% increase despite being from the outgoing generation. The success of the T-Roc was noteworthy as it occurred just as the new model was introduced at the end of August.

Top 10 Best-Selling Cars in Europe for August 2025

1. Volkswagen T-Roc: 14,693 units sold, +14% year-over-year change
2. Dacia Sandero: 13,834 units sold, -11% year-over-year change
3. Toyota Yaris Cross: 12,201 units sold, -8% year-over-year change
4. Volkswagen Tiguan: 12,094 units sold, +23% year-over-year change
5. Renault Clio: 12,091 units sold, -1% year-over-year change
6. Hyundai Tucson: 11,350 units sold, +28% year-over-year change
7. Dacia Duster: 9,813 units sold, -16% year-over-year change
8. Toyota Yaris: 9,666 units sold, -6% year-over-year change
9. Opel Corsa: 9,585 units sold, +2% year-over-year change
10. Volkswagen Golf: 9,444 units sold, -2% year-over-year change

China’s Growing Presence in the European Market

Chinese car brands experienced remarkable growth in Europe, selling over 43,500 units in August 2025. This represented a 121% increase compared to the same month in 2024, allowing Chinese manufacturers to surpass established brands like Audi and Renault. The top five Chinese brands—MG, BYD, Jaecoo, Omoda, and Leapmotor—accounted for 84% of all Chinese-branded vehicle registrations.

Performance of Major Automotive Groups

Major automotive groups posted varied results in August 2025:

• Volkswagen Group: 219,048 units sold, +4.8% year-over-year change, 27.7% market share
• Stellantis: 106,078 units sold, +2.2% year-over-year change, 13.4% market share
• Renault Group: 75,328 units sold, +7.8% year-over-year change, 9.5% market share
• Hyundai Group: 68,923 units sold, +3.3% year-over-year change, 8.7% market share
• BMW Group: 61,402 units sold, +11.4% year-over-year change, 7.8% market share
• SAIC Motor: 16,000 units sold, +44.5% year-over-year change, 2.0% market share
• BYD: Nearly tripled its sales with a 215.7% gain.

Electric Vehicles Continue to Rise

Despite a decline in Tesla’s sales, electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe recorded a 27% year-over-year increase in August 2025, with 159,756 new registrations. Volkswagen surpassed Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations, selling 16,523 units compared to Tesla’s 14,753 units. The Tesla Model Y remained the best-selling EV model, although its sales dropped by 37% to 8,330 units.

The rise of Chinese brands and the continued growth of EVs are reshaping the European automotive landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges for established manufacturers.