Well, in 2025 the Renault 5 E-Tech would be crowned the top-selling EV in the continent market, at least, for the first six months of the year. In the newly released “Electric Vehicle Sales Review Q2-2025” from PwC, it topped rivals such as the Tesla Model Y and VW ID in sales of this reimagined classic. 3 among the biggest European markets: Germany, France, Spain, and Italy The success story for the Renault 5 E-Tech happens when it reaches the market.
The uptick in Renault 5 E-Tech sales mirrors the more general embrace of electric automobiles in Europe. According to a new analysis by PwC based on registration data from 40 international markets, BEVs sales in Germany alone soared by 35 percent, with 249,000 units registered in the first half of 2025. Despite a UK BEV market share of 22 percent compared with 18 percent for Germany, this growth leaves Germany ahead of the UK in absolute sales.
You don’t have to go far in Europe to see the proverbial where the market is going automotive space a remarkable transformation taking place towards electric vehicles. The combined BEV registrations in the top five European markets increased by 25%, with these countries passing the 1.2 million threshold for newly registered electric cars in just six months. This stellar rise is at odds with the 24% plunge in registrations for combustion engines in the same time frame—the sixth successive quarterly decline for Europe’s biggest markets.
And although volume-wise the Renault 5 E-Tech is king, arguably the true winner is Volkswagen Group, which commands most of the model variety. Of the ten best-selling EVs in Europe, six are from Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra BMW remains high on the list too, with vehicles like the iX1, while other brands such as Citroën with the (an upcoming e-C3) get closer.
China is still the world leader in EVs. In the first half of 2024, BEV sales in that region exploded 42% to 3.7 million units, for 30% of global sales volume. Sales growth was more subdued at 7.3% in the United States, with Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y still topping the charts.
While the performance of the Renault 5 E-Tech is a definite win for the brand, industry experts say Renault continues to face strategic hurdles. PwC’s Felix Kuhnert says that there are tough decisions ahead for Europe’s manufacturers – to be all-in on electric mobility or support combustion engines henceforth. The deep dependence on Asian supply chains also endangers the value creation and competitiveness of the European economy itself.
The move of the Renault 5 E-Tech to the crown of best-selling EV in Europe highlights the rapid pace of the continent’s shift toward electrification. With the consumer adoption of electric hatchbacks such as the Renault 5 E-Tech, the automotive world will need to accelerate to not lose the pace of evolution while maintaining sustainability in this new age.
FAQ
Blending heritage design with contemporary electric architecture, the Renault 5 E-Tech will likely resonate with buyers in major European markets, including Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. It managed to outsell competitors such as the Tesla Model Y and the VW ID. 3.
In the first half of 2025, battery-electric vehicle sales in the top five European markets rose by a quarter to more than 1.2 million new registrations.
Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK are the biggest EV registration markets, with Germany leading the charge in terms of absolute numbers.
Volkswagen Group goes one better with model variety, as VW, Skoda, and Cupra produced six of the ten best-selling EVs in Europe.
Manufacturers face the point of no return with battery-powered EVs or invest in combustion engines Reliance on Asia for Supply Chains also endangers Value Add at Home
