Tesla is experiencing significant sales declines in Europe, with drops exceeding 50% in France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and the UK. In Germany, sales fell by 46% in April, while smaller decreases occurred in Portugal and Spain. Only Italy and Norway saw sales growth.
Even before CEO Elon Musk aligned with Donald Trump and his policies, Tesla faced challenges due to an outdated product lineup compared to competitors like Chinese brands and European automakers. Musk’s political alignment and the US government’s global stance have further damaged the brand. A recent refresh of the Model Y failed to reverse the trend.
The UK, one of Tesla’s largest European markets, saw an 8.1% increase in BEV registrations in April 2025, despite a 10.4% drop in overall car sales. However, Tesla’s sales plummeted by 62%, registering only 512 cars.
In Germany, BEV sales rose by 53.5%, yet Tesla’s sales fell by 46%. A survey of over 100,000 Germans revealed that 94% would never buy a Tesla due to Musk’s support for Trump and Germany’s far-right AfD party, as well as controversial gestures made during Trump’s inauguration.
Other European countries also reported significant declines: Sweden (81%), the Netherlands (73.8%), Denmark (67%), and France (59%). With a claimed annual capacity of 375,000 vehicles, Tesla’s Berlin factory seems underutilized.
— new from Ars Technica
