Not a single European in Spain’s top 10 electric car sales list: China and Tesla dominate

The Spanish electric car market is presenting a quite striking picture this September. Although there are still a few days left in the month, and with the usual seasonal boost, the return to activity after the summer lull is painting an extremely concerning picture for Western automakers. Tesla once again clearly takes the lead, as is common in the months when ships carrying cars arrive for delivery, while European manufacturers are struggling greatly to make a dent among the most registered models.

The available data, which can be viewed on Motor.es’s website, also shows a particularly strong presence of Asian manufacturers so far. Of the ten electric cars at the top of the rankings, six are from Chinese groups, with the other two being a Japanese model, the Toyota C-HR+, and a South Korean model, the KIA EV3.

It’s no surprise to find the Tesla Model 3 in first place. The arrival of new units in Spain usually leads to significant increases in its registrations, and September is no exception. At the time this ranking was compiled, the Model 3 had accumulated 1,723 units, a figure that even placed it as the most registered car in the entire Spanish market.

To put this figure in context, the Tesla Model 3 also outperformed internal combustion and hybrid models that typically top the market rankings. The Toyota Corolla had 1,082 units sold, while the Toyota C-HR sold 1,029 units, meaning the American electric vehicle surpassed both in total registrations.

But what’s truly remarkable becomes apparent when the ranking is narrowed to consider only electric cars. As of the 18th, no European brand appears among the top ten positions. The list is practically dominated by Asian manufacturers.

The first model that appears after the two Teslas is the Leapmotor B10, with 209 units. This Chinese brand, part of the Stellantis group, is rapidly gaining presence in Europe, and the B10 has become one of its key assets. In fact, this model surprised everyone in July by becoming the most registered electric car in Spain that month. Now it adds to this success by having production begin at its plant in Zaragoza, meaning that although it’s Chinese, it will bear the “Made in Europe” label.

Right behind it is the Toyota C-HR+, the electric version of the popular Japanese SUV, with 193 units. This model maintains a prominent position within Toyota’s electric vehicle strategy, though it still lags behind the B10 at the start of September.

Six Chinese models among the top ten

The next model is the BYD Dolphin Surf, with 190 units sold. This compact electric vehicle from BYD has already shown strong sales performance in Spain, and now it comes with a new five-seater version that could further increase its appeal to Spanish buyers. Another model will soon earn the label of being manufactured in Europe once BYD starts production there in Hungary.

Following them are the KIA EV3 and Leapmotor B05, with 132 and 128 units sold respectively. The KIA EV3 is actually one of the few models from a non-Chinese Asian manufacturer to remain in this high tier of the rankings, while Leapmotor has two models in the top positions.

The list is completed by three other cars from China. The BYD Atto 2 has 125 units sold, the BYD Atto 3 Evo reaches 123, and the Changan Deepal S05 accounts for 102 registrations.

The result is quite significant: six of the ten best-selling electric cars in Spain during this period in September are from Chinese brands, while the other four belong to Tesla, Toyota, and KIA. No European manufacturer manages to sell even a hundred units during this time frame.

The Renault 5 E-Tech, one of the models that held the highest expectations among the new generation of European electric cars, has sold only 75 units so far. This may be because Renault has prioritized deliveries in France, where it has received tremendous acclaim and is one of the best-selling cars on the market. Renault even had to increase production at its factory in Douai to meet demand.

The absence of Volkswagen Group from the top positions is also notable. The Volkswagen ID.4 appears as the best-performing electric vehicle from the German conglomerate, but it ranks much lower, with 58 units sold during the same period. This means that Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, or CUPRA are also not among the top ten.

This situation is particularly striking given that Volkswagen Group managed to overtake Tesla as Europe’s leading electric vehicle manufacturer in 2025. Its wide range of models from Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, and CUPRA allowed it to achieve significant sales volume across the continent, though this strength does not translate in the same way to this September’s Spanish ranking.

And there are names that can make the situation even worse. The arrival of models like the Geely E2 is significant, as it represents China’s best-selling car, where its low cost has propelled it to the top in terms of sales among all vehicles. Now it’s entering Europe with a strong desire to succeed.

Therefore, the September rankings could still change before the end of the month. But the current picture highlights one undeniable fact: the top spots in Spain’s electric car market are being taken by Tesla and Asian manufacturers, while major European companies are facing significant challenges in getting their models among the most registered vehicles.

Opinion

Many wonder why this is the case. The answer is simple: price. Chinese cars generally offer nothing different from those made in Europe. The models that succeed aren’t packed with advanced technology or LiDAR, but rather feature an excellent price-to-performance ratio that theoretically attracts any customer. Once you capture a customer’s attention, it becomes easy to convince them.

On the other side, we have Europeans with configuration systems that are usually very complicated. Stellantis and Mercedes lead the way in this regard, often mixing internal combustion engines with hybrids and electric vehicles. Their selling prices are also inflated, though these can be “adjusted” through promotions. But many customers never get to that stage and are deterred by the list price alone.

We should learn from the best in this area: Tesla. Its configuration tool is the simplest and most effective. It’s a brand that sells all its cars online and understands that this feature is crucial for success. It’s a model everyone should emulate, where customers can see the car’s price before any discounts or promotions, and then see the price after applying the manufacturer’s offers. It’s simple, extremely effective, and far from the mess found in many other brands.