May 22 (Reuters) - Chinese automaker BYD 002594.SZ sold more electric vehicles in Europe than Tesla TSLA.O for the first time, according to a report by JATO Dynamics, as an aging model lineup and CEO Elon Musk's politics hurt demand for the U.S. EV maker's cars.BYD, which also makes plug-in hybrid vehicles, registered 7,231 battery-powered electric vehicles (BEV) in Europe in April, while Tesla registered 7,165 units, the market research firm said.&#34;This is a watershed moment for Europe's car market, particularly when you consider that Tesla has led the European BEV market for years, while BYD only officially began operations beyond Norway and the Netherlands in late 2022,&#34; JATO Dynamics' global analyst Felipe Munoz said.Demand for electric vehicles in Europe remains steady. BEV registrations surged 28% in April from last year, largely driven by Chinese car brands.Despite the EU's imposition of tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, registrations of such cars increased 59% in the month from a year earlier, while carmakers from Europe, Japan, South Korea and the United States recorded 26% growth. WEAK TESLA DEMANDThe company reported its first drop in annual deliveries last year, and analysts expect another fall this year after a 13% decline in the first quarter.Musk said earlier this week that Tesla had already turned around sales, and demand was strong in regions apart from Europe. His political views have triggered waves of protests against Tesla in the U.S. and Europe, leading to a slump in sales.Additionally, production halts to retool factories to make the redesigned Model Y crossover globally caused a drop in manufacturing and sales in the first quarter.Analysts have also attributed lower sales to customers waiting for less-expensive versions of the new Model Y, Tesla's best-selling vehicle, to become more widely available.<div>Rising EV competition and Musk protests hit Tesla sales worldwide: Rising EV competition and Musk protests hit Tesla sales worldwide https://reut.rs/43pGgwxBYD's April EV registrations in Europe among top gainers https://reut.rs/4kv5tLW</div>

TSLA

BYDDY

002594

BYDDF

01211

China's BYD has outsold Tesla in Europe for the first time, with 7,231 battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) sold in April compared to Tesla's 7,165 units, according to JATO Dynamics. This marks a significant shift in the European BEV market, where Tesla has been a leader for years. Despite tariffs on Chinese EVs, registrations surged 59% year-on-year, driven by Chinese brands. Tesla faces declining demand, attributed to production halts and CEO Elon Musk's political controversies, leading to a drop in sales and deliveries.

- Chinese automaker BYD sold more electric vehicles in Europe than Tesla for the first time, with 7,231 units compared to Tesla's 7,165 in April.  
- This shift marks a significant change in the European BEV market, where Tesla has been a leader for years, while BYD only expanded operations in late 2022.  
- Despite tariffs on Chinese EVs, demand remains strong, with overall BEV registrations in Europe increasing by 28% year-on-year, driven largely by Chinese brands.  

China's BYD outsells Tesla in Europe for first time, report says