Tesla bounces back in Europe: September registrations up in France (+62%), Sweden (+38%) and Norway (+2%)
In France, the Model Y was the most registered car of September with 8,183 units, ahead of the Peugeot 208. Tesla climbed to fifth place among brands, its best ranking ever in the country.
After two years of falling sales in Europe, September confirms that Tesla's trend has turned around. According to data released on Thursday, October 1, by national industry bodies and compiled by Reuters, new Tesla registrations rose year on year in France (+61.9%), Sweden (+38.4%) and Norway (+2.2%). The figures come from PFA in France, OFV in Norway and Mobility Sweden.
France is the standout: there, the Model Y was the most registered new car in September, ahead of popular models such as the Peugeot 208 and the Citroën C3.
France: Model Y on top for the second month running
According to PFA data, published in detail by Best Selling Cars Blog, Tesla registered 9,038 cars in France in September, up 61.9% from a year earlier. Its market share was 5.8%, and Tesla climbed to fifth place in the brand ranking. That's Tesla's best position ever in France; its previous best was sixth, in March and December 2023. In terms of volume and share, though, the records still date from 2023: 9,572 cars in December and 6.1% in November.
Almost all of that volume comes from a single model:
| Rank | Model | September 2026 registrations | vs. September 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 8,183 | +68.9% |
| 2 | Peugeot 208 | 7,860 | +15.8% |
| 3 | Citroën C3 | 6,227 | +27.1% |
| 45 | Tesla Model 3 | 855 | +15.9% |
The Model Y also took first place in August, so this is the second month in a row that Tesla's SUV is France's best-selling car. Year to date, Tesla has 45,199 registrations in the country, more than double the same period of 2025 (+124.4%).
France is going electric fast
The backdrop helps. The French market grew 11.6% in September to 156,629 new cars, but electric cars jumped 108.1% to 65,243 units. That's a record 41.7% share, almost double the 22.3% of a year ago. Tesla isn't the only winner: the Renault 5 doubled its sales, and the new electric Twingo climbed to seventh place in the model ranking, its best result so far.
What the European numbers say
September continues a trend that was already visible. According to ACEA, the European carmakers' association cited by Reuters, Tesla registrations across the European Union, the UK and EFTA countries rose 43.3% in the first eight months of the year. That's ahead of the electric car market as a whole, which grew 38.8% over the same period.
Reuters attributes the rebound to several factors: a weak 2025 comparison base, higher fuel prices, government incentives and growing interest in electric cars. Data from Germany and the UK, Europe's two largest markets, is due later this week and will show whether the recovery holds on a bigger scale.
What it means for drivers
If you're considering a Model Y, demand this strong in Europe can mean longer delivery times and less room for discounts, at least in the short term. On the other hand, a Model Y at the top of the charts in France, a market dominated for years by Peugeot, Renault and Dacia, shows how much attitudes toward electric cars have shifted. And Norway's modest 2.2% growth is a reminder that its market is already almost fully electric, with little room left to grow.
The next milestone comes on Friday, October 2, when Tesla publishes its global third-quarter deliveries. We covered what analysts expect here.
