BMW Overtakes Tesla in European EV Sales for First Time

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

BMW briefly topped Tesla in European battery EV registrations in July, prompting debate over how meaningful the milestone is given Tesla’s lumpy quarterly shipping patterns and year-to-date dominance. Commenters contrast BMW’s growing but conventional-looking EV lineup with Tesla’s aging model range, quality and service issues, and Elon Musk’s polarizing public behavior, which some say is now hurting the brand. Others argue Tesla still leads on technology, efficiency and global sales, and that legacy automakers’ EV efforts are constrained by profit margins and competition from cheaper Chinese models.

Scope of the “BMW Overtakes Tesla” Claim

  • Commenters note the headline is based on July 2024 registrations in Europe, with BMW ahead by only ~300 units.
  • Multiple posts stress this is a one‑month snapshot, strongly affected by Tesla’s quarterly logistics (month 1 build, month 2 ship from China, month 3 deliver).
  • Year‑to‑date charts shared in the thread show Tesla still substantially ahead of BMW in European BEV sales.
  • Registrations are seen as a relatively good proxy for true consumer sales, though not perfectly 1:1 and in principle gameable.

BMW’s EV Lineup and Design

  • Several people were unaware BMW had multiple BEVs; others list the historic i3 and current “i” models.
  • i3 is widely praised as an innovative city car with carbon fiber construction, but criticized for small battery and high cost; its failure pushed BMW back to shared ICE/EV platforms.
  • Upcoming “Neue Klasse” is described as a clean-sheet EV platform with more interior space and high performance potential.
  • Many dislike BMW’s oversized “beaver tooth” grilles and fake vents; a minority say they like the i4/IX aesthetics.

Tesla vs. BMW: Quality, Reliability, and Tech

  • Some state they’d never buy Tesla over a legacy brand with decades of experience; others counter that Tesla drivetrains and batteries are very reliable, with issues mostly cosmetic.
  • EU inspection data is cited to claim high defect rates for the Model 3; counter‑claims say BMW ICE reliability also varies strongly by model.
  • Several compare interiors: BMW EVs feel more “premium” and conventional; new Teslas are seen by some as cheapened, overly screen‑driven, and missing familiar controls.
  • Opinions on Tesla’s FSD diverge: some report a major recent step up and find it less stressful than driving; others call it dangerous L2 that encourages inattention and lags behind systems from Mercedes, GM, and Waymo.

Musk, Brand Perception, and Buying Decisions

  • Many commenters explicitly say they cancelled Tesla orders or won’t consider Tesla now, largely due to Musk’s political activity, social‑media behavior, and FSD marketing.
  • Others argue this effect is overstated, that most buyers focus on price, range, and charging, and that Tesla sales volumes remain very high.
  • In Europe, some say Musk’s persona matters less, though his interventions in EU/UK politics and moderation on X are becoming more visible.

Broader Market and Valuation

  • Consensus that Tesla will no longer be the “default” EV as nearly every major brand now offers BEVs and charging access is broadening.
  • Some predict legacy manufacturers will “eat Tesla’s lunch” as the market matures; others point out Tesla still leads global BEV volumes and offers strong value (e.g., post‑incentive Model 3 pricing).
  • Tesla’s market cap (far above BMW and even Toyota) is widely seen as baking in expectations beyond being “just a car company”; opinions split on whether that upside is realistic.