Despite the overall growth of the electric vehicle market, Tesla sales in Europe plummeted 49% in the first two months of the year. Elon Musk's EV Giants face tough competition, aging models for sale, and considerable political controversy among CEOs.
AP News Report Elon Musk's Tesla saw a sharp decline in sales in Europe, down a staggering 49% in January and February, compared to the same period last year. This drop is surprising given that sales of all battery-electric vehicles in Europe will increase by 28.4% overall over the same time frame.
According to the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Tesla sold only 19,046 vehicles in the first two months of 2025. This is in stark contrast to the 37,311 units sold during the 2024 correspondence period.
China's BYD, one of Tesla's major rivals, recently reported record revenue of 7771.1 billion yuan ($107 billion) in 2024, with sales of electric and hybrid vehicles rising by 40%. BYD is also launching an ultra-fast EV charging system that claims to be as fast as filling with a gas pump, further strengthening competition in the EV sector.
However, Tesla's misery exceeds its product lineup and market competition. The company and its CEO Elon Musk are facing a major backlash due to Musk's partnership with the US Trump administration and the support of Germany's far-right Alternative Party (AFD) party in the recent national elections. German politicians and the media have sharply criticised Musk for his support of the AFD, but US and European protesters and terrorists have targeted Tesla vehicles and dealers in response to Musk's political stance and his role in advising U.S. President Donald Trump to significantly reduce the size of the federal government.
Tesla sales declines are not limited to Europe. The company recorded its first annual sales decline in January in over 12 years. Additionally, Tesla's new Cybertruck is suffering from multiple recalls, and the latest recalls have affected almost every vehicle due to panels along the windshield that could take off while driving. This marks the eighth recall of CyberTruck as delivery to customers began more than a year ago.
The AP contributed to this report.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News, which covers the issues of freedom of speech and online censorship.
