Sales of battery-powered cars soared 38 percent in the first quarter after models including Renault SA’s improved Zoe won buyers in Germany and Spain. That compares with a gain of 2.9 percent for all of last year.
Manufacturers including Germany’s Volkswagen AG, BMW AG and Daimler AG are racing to widen their line-ups of electric cars to meet tougher emissions rules and provide an alternative to polluting diesels tarnished by the VW scandal.
See https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-04/electric-car-sales-are-suddenly-taking-off-in-europe 
Electric Car Sales Are Suddenly Taking Off in Europe
Removes erroneous Tesla comparison in the seventh paragraph.