Norway, a haven for electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts, continues to embrace Tesla while othre European markets show signs of cooling. In Norway, more than nine out of ten new cars are fully electric, a statistic unmatched globally. Despite its vast oil reserves, fewer than 200 of the 43,000 vehicles sold through April ran solely on gasoline.

Data released Monday indicates that Norway remains loyal to Tesla, even as Europe appears to be turning away from the brand.

Norway’s Tesla Surge

Registrations of new Tesla passenger cars in Norway more than tripled last month, reaching 2,600 vehicles. This surge was primarily driven by the Model Y. Official registration data confirms this dramatic increase.

• Model Y Dominance: The model Y led Tesla’s resurgence in Norway.
• Market leadership: Tesla reclaimed the top spot among all car brands in Norway for the month.
• Year-to-Date Recovery: The strong May performance erased previous year-to-date losses.

European Downturn: A Broader perspective

While Norway shines, Tesla faces challenges in other major European markets.Registrations in the Netherlands, Sweden, and France paint a concerning picture.

• Netherlands: Experienced a 36% year-on-year drop in Tesla registrations in May.
• Sweden: Saw Tesla volumes collapse by more than half.
• France: Suffered the most significant decline, with Tesla volumes shrinking by two-thirds last month.

Combined, these traditionally strong Tesla markets registered only 2,281 Tesla cars in May, fewer than the number of Model Y crossovers registered in Norway during the same period.

even in Spain,a market with relatively low EV demand,Tesla saw a sharp drop,albeit less pronounced at 29%.

BYD’s Ascent: A Rising Competitor

While Tesla struggles in parts of Europe, Chinese automaker BYD is experiencing rapid growth. In Spain, BYD’s sales increased tenfold, driven by its Seal U crossover.

BYD’s success extends beyond Spain. The company is on track to surpass Tesla in annual sales.In May, BYD reported a 42% surge in volumes of its fully electric passenger cars.

BYD’s success in Spain is part of an ongoing trend. Even before its European car plant in Hungary celebrates its start of production later this year, the brand notched another monthly record for overseas sales.

BYD remains firmly on track to eclipse Tesla for the first time across a full year of sales. On Monday, it reported volumes of its fully electric passenger cars surged by 42% in May.

Tesla’s Response

Tesla,which only publishes aggregated data quarterly,did not respond to a request for comment.