Tesla sales across Europe plummeted by almost 50% last month even as the broader market for electric cars saw growth in the region, according to data released Tuesday.
Sales of Tesla vehicles in 32 European countries tumbled 49% to 7,261 in April from 14,228 in the same month the previous year, according to the figures released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, or ACEA.
At the same time, sales of battery-electric vehicles by all manufacturers rose about 28%, the group’s data shows.
The numbers are the latest indication of how much the Tesla brand is suffering because of the backlash against billionaire CEO Elon Musk over his far-right views. Crowds have gathered at Tesla dealerships in both Europe and the U.S., with protesters objecting to Musk’s work with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has slashed the U.S. federal workforce and been the subject of multiple lawsuits.
The protesters are aiming at Tesla to dent Musk’s fortunes, given that much of his wealth is tied up in shares of the electric vehicle maker.
“2025 started off as a dark chapter for Musk and Tesla as Elon’s role in the Trump Administration and DOGE created a life of its own which created brand damage and a black cloud over the story,” noted Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in a May 23 research note.
Musk, meanwhile, said last month he would scale back his DOGE work beginning in May in order to spend more time at Tesla. The EV company’s first-quarter earnings fell far short of analyst expectations, with revenue tumbling 9% and profit slumping 71%.
The latest European sales figures, which cover the European Union’s 27 member countries and five other nations outside the bloc, back up early data from Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark released at the start of this month that had pointed to a sales collapse.
Tesla’s aging model lineup
While Tesla has been reeling from protests and boycotts over Musk wading into politics, it also faces other factors including an aging model lineup and intensifying competition from rival electric vehicle brands, particularly from China.
Mr. Trump’s trade war has also turned Europeans off buying American brands. In recent days, Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on EU goods, accusing the bloc of being “very difficult to deal with,” before agreeing to delay the duties until July.
In one sign that Tesla appears to be losing ground to cut-price Chinese brands, sales at China’s SAIC zoomed up 54% in April, according to the ACEA figures. SAIC owns a slew of auto brands including U.K.-based MG, known for its low-cost EV models.
Tesla is also suffering because it had to shut down factories for several weeks this year while upgrading its best selling Model Y sport utility vehicle, pinching supply.
For the first four months of the year, Tesla’s European sales fell roughly 39% to 61,320 while the continent’s auto market as a while showed little change during the same period, according to the data.
For April, car sales in the EU edged up 1.3% from the previous year, “showing signs of recovery despite the ongoing unpredictable global economic environment,” the group said in a press release. Meanwhile, sales of gasoline and diesel powered cars slumped.
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