The Tesla Model 3 was the top-selling vehicle in Europe last month, the first time a full-electric car has outsold rival models with combustion engines.
At 24,591 cars registered in September, the Model 3 recorded year-on-year growth of 58 percent. The second bestseller was the Renault Clio followed by the Dacia Sandero and then the Volkswagen Golf, according to JATO Dynamics.
The Model 3's performance partly reflects "Tesla's intensive end-of-quarter sales push," the research company said in a report released Monday.
Taking the monthly sales crown is a major milestone for EVs and another sign that the automotive industry is accelerating its pivot away from the combustion engine.
Governments are offering generous incentives to entice buyers to trade in combustion-engine cars, with full-electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicles accounting for 23 percent of the market in September, a near doubling from 2020.
Still, the development comes against a grim backdrop for European auto sales because the global semiconductor shortage is crimping production and delaying shipments to customers.
New-car registrations dropped by a quarter last month and dealers are struggling to fill lots.
"The growing popularity of EVs is encouraging, but sales are not yet strong enough to offset the big declines seen across other segments," JATO said.
The landmark sales figures come as Tesla awaits final approval for its first European gigafactory in Gruendheide near Berlin, with CEO Elon Musk hoping production of the Model Y can start this year.
In the full-electric vehicle segment, Tesla's Model 3 and Y ranked first and second in September, with Volkswagen's ID3 in third place.
Reuters contributed to this story
