In April, Tesla's vehicle sales in Germany and the United Kingdom have dipped to their lowest levels since 2021, highlighting a troubling trend for the U.S. automaker in a market that is otherwise embracing electric vehicles. According to newly released figures, Germany saw a staggering 46% decline in new Tesla vehicle registrations, while the U.K. recorded a drop of 62%. Interestingly, this slump occurred despite an overall rise in electric vehicle sales throughout both nations.
Similar trends were observed across Europe, with Tesla sales plummeting over 80% in Sweden and down 59% in France. Analysts suggest that a delayed rollout of Tesla’s updated Model Y might be a contributing factor to this downturn.
However, deeper issues may be at play, with many observers linking the decline to a growing backlash against political controversies involving CEO Elon Musk. The sentiment is particularly strong in light of recent tariff policies and Musk's perceived alignment with far-right political movements, which have led some European consumers to reconsider their support of U.S. products.
Matthias Schmidt, a market analyst at Schmidt Automotive Research, stated, “The data from April strongly indicates that this isn’t merely a temporary dip related to a model update; Tesla’s challenges in Europe appear to be rooted in broader socio-political sentiments regarding Mr. Musk.” As competition heats up in the electric vehicle market, Tesla will need to navigate these complex dynamics to regain its foothold in Europe.
