Stellantis Challenges VW for EV Model Lead in Europe

According to recent figures from Dataforce, Stellantis is en route to surpassing VW as the top seller of battery-electric vehicles in Europe. The manufacturer currently sits behind VW and ahead of Tesla - a significant moment.

"We are head on fighting for the top spot in terms of BEV sales in European market," CEO Carlos Tavares told analysts on Stellantis’ first-half earnings call in August.

The Fiat New 500 helped make it possible. It was the best-selling fully electric vehicle in Western Europe in the second quarter, and the first time that title failed to go to a Tesla model since late 2020. 

The figures for the data are derived from vehicle registrations in several EU countries as well as Switzerland, the U.K., Norway, and Iceland. 

Tavares revealed that the New 500 model was the best-selling all-electric model in Germany and Italy in the second quarter. The Peugeot e-208 small car was another significant contributor, taking the top EV spot in France during the same time frame.

Tesla Model 3 production was negatively affected by coronavirus shutdowns at its factory in Shanghai. Despite the slowdown, Tesla models still took the two top spots in Europe during the first half of the year, selling almost 40,000 Model Ys. Model 3 sales by almost 25% to about 38,000, and the Fiat New 500 was third, with roughly 32,000 sales followed by the e-208 with just under 22,000. 

A strong second half bolstered Stellantis, as the group's EV models from Citroen, Fiat, DS, and Open/Vauxhall more than doubled Tesla's western European sales at roughly 60,000 units to 25,000, respectively. 

Next year, Stellantis anticipates strong sales from fully electric versions of the Peugeot 308 and Opel Astra compacts, as well as the new Peugeot 3008 compact SUV. With lockdowns in China ending, Tesla expects a much stronger second half year of sales.