Tesla Model 3 tops German rivals in Europe

The Tesla Model 3 was Europe’s best-selling midsize premium car in March, beating better-established models from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Tesla sold 15,755 Model 3s in March, putting it ahead of the Mercedes C class, BMW 3 series, and Audi A4, figures from JATO Dynamics show.

The new electric midsize sedan was the best-selling car in Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands in March. In Norway, it had 29 percent market share,

The impressive debut of the sedan, which starts at 44,500 euros in Germany, made Tesla the No. 25 brand by unit sales in Europe in March, putting it ahead of premium rivals such as Lexus, Jaguar and Alfa Romeo.

Tesla has not started selling the Model 3 in all European markets, suggesting sales could climb. The electric vehicle maker announced this week that Model 3 deliveries would start next month in the UK, which is a key market for EV sales.

The success of the Model 3, however, was countered by a dramatic fall in demand for Tesla’s older models. European sales of the Model S large sedan declined 72 percent to 787, causing it to lose its lead in the large premium segment to the Mercedes S class.

Sales of the Model X SUV fell 52 percent to 874.

Pent-up demand for the Model 3 helped boost sales of electric cars across Europe to 40,000 in March, up 85 percent on the same month the year before, according to JATO.