Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 33.9% of all new passenger car registrations in the Netherlands in April, led by strong sales of the Kia EV3 and newly launched Skoda Elroq, according to data published by BOVAG, RAI Vereniging, and RDC.
A total of 9,206 BEVs were registered last month, marking a modest 1.5% year-on-year increase and underscoring a plateau in the country’s once-rapid EV adoption. The figure also fell slightly below the 35.3% EV share recorded in the first quarter of 2025.
See also: Dutch Firms Collaborate on Hydrogen-Powered Flight for 2026
The Kia EV3 retained its position as the overall best-selling passenger car across all powertrains, with 871 units registered in April. Close behind was the Skoda Elroq, which achieved 843 registrations in its first full month on the market. Both models topped the BEV charts, collectively accounting for nearly 19% of all electric car sales in the country.
Tesla, by contrast, experienced a sharp year-on-year decline. The brand registered just 382 vehicles in April, down 74% from 1,457 in the same month last year. Tesla’s Q1 figures had already shown a downward trend, with 1,660 Model 3s (-37%) and 1,752 Model Ys (-58%) sold in the first three months of the year.
See also: Transdev Secures Dutch Transport Concession, VDL to Supply 42 Electric Buses
The broader Dutch passenger car market contracted by 4% in April, recording 27,157 new registrations. Hybrids, including plug-in models, led the powertrain mix with 13,329 registrations (+6.4% YoY), representing 49% of the market. BEVs followed with 34%, while petrol cars accounted for 14% (3,901 units). Diesel and LPG vehicles remained marginal, at 2% and 0.4% respectively.
Beyond the leading two BEVs, the Volvo EX30 (371 units), Renault 5 (368), and Ford Explorer EV (304) completed the top five electric models. Combined, these five vehicles made up 30% of all BEV sales, suggesting a highly fragmented EV market beyond the segment leaders. Meanwhile, Volkswagen and Tesla were notably absent from the top rankings.