Tesla’s Model 3 led electric car sales in Spain this September, outselling every other car, including the hybrids that usually dominate. By September 18, 1,723 Model 3s had been registered. The Toyota Corolla followed with 1,082 and the Toyota C-HR with 1,029.
European brands are missing from the electric top ten. The latest numbers show that six of Spain’s ten most popular electric cars now come from Chinese brands. The others include one Japanese model, the Toyota C-HR+, one South Korean model, the KIA EV3, and two Teslas, though only the Model 3’s figures are public. The best-performing European models are the Renault 5 E-Tech, with 75 units, and Volkswagen’s ID.4, with 58.
By September 2026, fully electric vehicles accounted for 9.6% of new Spanish registrations, a sign of rapid growth in EV adoption.
The current leaderboard puts the Tesla Model 3 at 1,723, Leapmotor B10 at 209, Toyota C-HR+ at 193, BYD Dolphin Surf at 190, KIA EV3 at 132, Leapmotor B05 at 128, BYD Atto 2 at 125, BYD Atto 3 Evo at 123 and Changan Deepal S05 at 102. Tesla also holds a second place in the top ten, but the model and its figures have not yet been specified.
The Leapmotor B10 stands out. Stellantis owns the brand, and the model was Spain’s top-selling electric car in July. Production has now begun at the Zaragoza plant. The car remains Chinese in design, but will soon carry a ‘made in Europe’ badge. BYD is planning a similar move, with a new factory in Hungary. The Dolphin Surf is now available in a five-seat version aimed at attracting more buyers.
Price and value, rather than high-tech features, are pushing Spanish buyers away from European electric cars. Chinese models offer more for less. European brands complicate the process with confusing online configurators and high prices, often putting combustion, hybrid and electric options on the same page. Many shoppers give up before visiting a dealer. Tesla takes the opposite approach: a clear online process, upfront prices, no hidden extras and few complicated choices. Its configurator is among the easiest to use, and it works.
Reuters reported that Chinese brands accounted for 9% of the EU electric vehicle market in the first half of 2026. Industry forecasts expect that share to grow further by 2030. Analysts say European manufacturers are losing ground because Chinese models offer comparable features at significantly lower prices, not because European technology is inferior.
The gap is even wider across Europe. Volkswagen Group finished 2025 as the continent’s top electric car maker, ahead of Tesla, with brands including Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi and CUPRA. Yet none of those names appears in Spain’s electric top ten this September.
The rankings could still change. Dealerships sometimes register cars at the last minute, shifting the figures before the month ends. New rivals are arriving, too: the Geely E2, China’s top-selling car across all types, is heading to Europe with a focus on low prices. The distinction between ‘Chinese’ and ‘European’ will blur as more Asian-designed cars are built in Europe. A Leapmotor B10 from Zaragoza or a BYD from Hungary will remain Asian in design, but count as European-made on paper.
For Spanish buyers, price rules the electric market. Brands that fail to adjust will keep losing ground. As reported earlier, Spain is now a basic battleground for the car industry’s future. Chinese brands are moving quickly, while established leaders struggle to keep up.
The figures put the Tesla Model 3 at 1,723, the Toyota Corolla at 1,082 and the Toyota C-HR at 1,029. Tesla, Leapmotor, BYD, Toyota and KIA lead the brands, while Renault and Volkswagen barely register. Buyers weighing service and resale should check what discounts European brands are offering before purchasing. Price is reshaping Spain’s electric car market.
