Tesla sales across Europe plunged 40% last month, raising further questions over the extent drivers are being put off by its chief executive Elon Musk’s politics.
Data covering the EU, Britain and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nations on Tuesday showed a rise in overall new electric car sales during February, but Tesla lagging behind its peers.
It sold fewer than 17,000 cars compared to over 28,000 in the same month in 2024, with a market share of 1.8% compared to the 2.8% seen 12 months ago.
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The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said Tesla had sold 42.6% fewer cars in Europe in the year to date.
While total new car sales were down 3.1% on the same period in 2024, those for battery electric vehicles were 26.1% higher.
The declines for Tesla were limited to the continent as the UK’s industry body, the SMMT, had already flagged a 20% rise in Tesla sales during February compared to February 2024.
The figures were released just hours after it was revealed that Chinese competitor BYD had overtaken its US rival in global annual revenue during 2024, despite the impact of European Union and US tariffs on Chinese-made EVs.
Tesla’s challenges include more intense, and cheaper, competition especially from China and a lack of budget models.
It has also suffered from a lack of new models – with the mid-size Model Y yet to launch.
But market commentators argue Mr Musk‘s intervention on behalf of right-wing political parties, seen most recently in the run-up to Germany’s national elections in which he publicly urged Germans to vote for the AfD, have contributed significantly to the sales decline.
