February 24, 2026
BYD ate Tesla’s lunch
Tesla registrations crash 17% in Europe as BEV market surges 14%
Community says “8075 too many” while BYD steals the show
TLDR: Tesla’s European registrations fell 17% while the electric car market grew; BYD sold over twice as many. Commenters roasted Elon, joked “8075 too many,” and questioned Tesla’s commitment, debating China’s rise and whether policy shifts, not timing, are behind the slump.
Europe’s electric-car party is booming, but commenters say Tesla showed up empty‑handed. New ACEA figures show Tesla registered just 8,075 cars in January, down 17% year over year while battery‑electric vehicles (BEVs) grew 13.9%. The crowd’s verdict? “That’s 8075 Teslas too many.” Others claim the issue runs deeper than last year’s Model Y refresh: “reconsider whether Tesla is in it for the long haul.” BYD is the new headliner, doubling Tesla with 18,242 registrations and a 165% surge — cue the “BYD ate Tesla’s lunch” memes and cheers for the Chinese challenger BYD.
The thread’s drama centers on whether Musk’s behavior and strategy are scaring buyers, or if policy shifts did the damage. Norway’s tax breaks ending hit Tesla hard, but the BEV boom in France and Germany has commenters insisting the “timing” excuse is toast. One quip summed it up: “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.” Meanwhile, doomsayers warn Western brands can’t stop a flood of affordable “appliance cars” without protectionism, as petrol sales crash and plug‑in hybrids jump 32%. Even with BEV share hitting 19.3% in the EU, skeptics argue Tesla’s missing the moment while everyone else moves on. It’s soap‑opera energy with spreadsheets: Tesla shrinking, Europe electrifying, and the comments section sharpening knives.
Key Points
- •Tesla registered 8,075 vehicles in EU+EFTA+UK in January 2026, down 17% year-over-year, per ACEA.
- •BEV registrations rose 13.9% to 189,062; EU BEV market share increased to 19.3% from 14.9%.
- •Excluding Tesla, BEV registrations grew 15.9% year-over-year (180,987 vs. 156,197).
- •BYD registered 18,242 vehicles (+165% YoY), achieving 1.9% market share vs. Tesla’s 0.8%.
- •Norway’s end of tax exemptions led to a 76.3% plunge in total new car registrations, contributing to Tesla’s regional decline.