<span>STORY: In the European Union, fully electric car sales surpassed gasoline car sales for the first time in December.</span><span>This happened despite policymakers proposing to relax emissions regulations.</span><span>Tesla continued to lose market share, especially to rivals such as China’s BYD and Volkswagen, Europe’s best-selling group.</span><span>This was according to data from the European automotive lobby ACEA.</span><span>Automobile sales across Europe continued to grow for the sixth consecutive month on an annual basis.</span><span>Overall registrations, a gauge of sales, hit a five-year high in 2025.</span><span>Europe’s auto industry faces challenges such as competition from China, US import tariffs and difficulties meeting local regulations on EV adoption.</span><span>In December, the EU announced a plan to lift the effective 2035 ban on cars with internal combustion engines, bowing to calls from struggling carmakers.</span><span>However, analysts expect electric vehicles to gain popularity despite the relaxation of policy.</span><span>Sales in the EU, UK and European Free Trade Association rose 7.6% to 1.2 million vehicles in December.</span><span>They increased by over 10% in VW and 4.5% in Stelantis.</span><span>However, Renault also fell by 2.2 percent. </span><span>Registrations at Tesla fell by a fifth.</span><span>Rival BYD saw a 229% increase. </span>
