Tesla’s sales in Europe continue to decline, despite an overall increase in electric vehicle (EV) sales across the continent. In April, Tesla experienced significant drops in sales in key European markets, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, and France, according to monthly sales reports.
This decline comes at a time when electric vehicle adoption is rising in Europe, but Tesla’s sales have been negatively impacted by a mix of factors, including the political controversies surrounding CEO Elon Musk. Musk’s public support for far-right political figures in Germany and the UK, along with his involvement in the Trump administration, has sparked protests and backlash. These political associations, along with concerns over potential tariffs on European imports, may be turning some European buyers away from Tesla.
In the UK, where Tesla had seen stronger sales earlier in the year, April sales plummeted by 62%, despite an 8% increase in overall EV sales for the month. Other European countries saw similarly steep drops, with Tesla sales down 67% in Denmark, 74% in the Netherlands, 33% in Portugal, 81% in Sweden, and 59% in France.
Tesla, which does not typically report monthly sales or break down sales by market, has not provided a comment on the April figures.
The drop in sales is not solely attributed to Musk’s reputation, however. Increasing competition from other automakers, especially from Chinese rival BYD, has put additional pressure on Tesla. BYD is expected to surpass Tesla as the world’s largest EV manufacturer in the near future.
Tesla’s recent struggles are reflected in a 36% drop in sales in Europe during the first quarter of 2025, despite a 24% increase in overall EV sales during the same period. The company also reported its first-ever decline in annual sales for 2024, along with the largest quarterly global sales drop in history during Q1, which led to a 71% decrease in net income. Tesla was only able to report a profit due to the sale of regulatory credits to other automakers.
Some analysts are predicting that the second quarter of 2025 could be another difficult period for Tesla, given the ongoing sales declines and the negative impact of Musk’s political associations.
