EV best-sellers around the world: Does Tesla also dominate in USA, UK, China, Germany and more?

What are the popular EV choices of our global cousins?

In 2024, Aussies pushed the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 to the top of the sales charts, with the MG4, BYD Seal and BYD Atto 3 rounding out the top five.

READ MORE: 2024 sales deep dive: Tesla dominates the Australian EV market, but BYD’s catching up
READ MORE: Every new EV coming to Australia in 2025

But are electric car buying habits similar overseas?

Here’s a list of 2024’s best-selling electric cars in select foreign markets.

USA

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Tesla Model 3
3. Ford Mustang Mach-E
4. Hyundai Ioniq 5
5. Tesla Cybertruck
6. Ford F-150 Lightning
7. Honda Prologue
8. Chevrolet Equinox EV
9. Cadillac Lyriq
10. Rivian R1S

Little wonder Tesla dominated on its home turf, but Ford’s Mustang Mach-E rounding out the podium may shock Aussies who’ve largely shunned the electric pony. And will it stay that way now that President Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on goods made in Mexico, which is where the electric Ford is made.

And will it stay that way now that President Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on goods from Mexico, which is where the electric Ford is made.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 outselling the Cybertruck shows there are some sensible Americans to be found, while it’s interesting to see how strong sales were of Honda’s Prologue electric SUV, despite it being the brand’s most expensive vehicle sold in the States.

Also notable is how strong the Cadillac Lyriq is next to luxury EV rivals BMW, Benz, Audi and Genesis. Patriotism has played its part, but does its popularity bode well for Cadillac’s Australian return this year?

UNITED KINGDOM

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Audi Q4 e-tron
3. Tesla Model 3
4. MG4
5. BMW i4
6. Mercedes-Benz EQA
7. Skoda Enyaq
8. Hyundai Kona Electric
9. Volvo EX30
10. Volkswagen ID.4

Big shock is how many Poms went for the Audi Q4 e-tron, pushing it above the Tesla Model 3 in the sales charts. Its popularity there should give Audi Australia plenty of positives as the electric medium SUV hits our market next month from $88,300 before on-road costs.

Despite BYD being in the UK market, the brand’s not made the same impact as seen in Australia. The MG4 (in fourth spot) is the only Chinese brand to make the UK’s top ten (it may help that MG has British heritage).

Notable by their absence are any EVs from Ford or Vauxhall (broadly equivalent to what Holden once was), typically the UK’s everyman brands. Also the usually-popular Volkswagen only just scrapes onto the list, behind a host of prestige brands.

GERMANY

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Skoda Enyaq
3. Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5
4. Volkswagen ID.3
5. Seat (Cupra) Born
6. Volkswagen ID.7
7. Audi Q4 e-tron
8. BMW iX1
9. MG4
10. Mercedes-Benz EQA

While Tesla remains king with its Model Y (but no Model 3 is to be seen), the Germans also buy patriotically: six of its top ten EVs are Volkswagen Group products.

While VW’s ID EVs may not be finding favour globally, the 3, 4/5 and 7 all make the list on home turf.

In second place, the Skoda Enyaq was only a few thousand sales off the all-conquering Tesla Model Y. In most markets, including Australia and the US, the Model Y is streets ahead.

FRANCE

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Peugeot e-208
3. Renault Megane E-Tech
4. Fiat 500e
5. Tesla Model 3
6. Renault Twingo Electric
7. Renault 5
8. Renault Scenie Electric
9. BMW iX1
10. Peugeot e-2008

Few nationalities buy as patriotically as the French, but the Model Y still reigns supreme en France. Six of the rest are homegrown brands, and lovely to see the retro delight Renault 5 has hit the top ten for the year after a few short months on sale.

The French have sensibly warmed to cheaper, city-sized EVs, including Peugeot’s e-208 in second place, the Fiat 500e and tiny Twingo. From them, only the Fiat’s currently on sale in Australia, and it’s been largely ignored.

Interestingly, not a Chinese EV to be seen in the French best-sellers.

NORWAY

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Tesla Model 3
3. Volvo EX30
4. Volkswagen ID.4
5. Toyota bZ4X

Nine in every ten new vehicles sold in Norway is a full EV, and for three years straight its best-selling EV and best-selling car overall is the Tesla Model Y.

Jumping out from the top five list is the appearance of Toyota’s first EV, the bZ4X. It’s a car that struggles for traction in practically every other market – Australia included – but the Norwegians seem to have fallen for it.

They’re the globe’s EV leaders in terms of market penetration, so maybe the Scandinavians know something we don’t?

CHINA

1. Tesla Model Y
2. BYD Song (Sealion 6)
3. BYD Qin Plus
4. BYD Seagull
5. BYD Yuan Plus (Atto 3)
6. BYD Destroyer 05

It’s tougher to get solid facts on full 2024 EV sales from China, but reports say a late surge at the end of the year bumped the Model Y into top spot, ahead of the more affordable BYD Song (known as the Sealion 6 in Australia) and BYD Qin Plus sedan.

Both these BYDs are available as a PHEV and BEV, and it’s unclear how many sales make up each powertrain option.

What is clear is the domination BYD has in its home market across numerous models, including the Yuan Plus that is sold here as the Atto 3.

Tesla aside, it’s notable how little penetration overseas brands have in China. No other non-Chinese marque is found in China’s top 20 top selling EVs and PHEVs.

AUSTRALIA

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Tesla Model 3
3. MG4
4. BYD Seal
5. BYD Atto 3
6. BMW iX1
7. Volvo EX30
8. BYD Dolphin
9. BMW i4
10. Kia EV6

To remind, these are the top ten EVs bought by Aussies in 2024.

Sadly, no patriotic choices for us to go for.