Tesla's European Sales Plummet Amidst Competition and Musk's Political Controversies

2025-03-02
Tesla's European Sales Plummet Amidst Competition and Musk's Political Controversies

Tesla's European sales plummeted by 45% year-over-year in January 2025, while overall EV sales in the region increased by 37%. Several factors contributed to this decline: the delayed launch of a cheaper Tesla model, an upcoming Model Y refresh causing buyer hesitation, intensifying competition from Chinese automakers like SAIC Motor (whose sales surpassed Tesla's by a factor of two), and significant public backlash against Elon Musk's controversial political activities. While the impact of public opinion on purchasing decisions is debated, Musk's actions undoubtedly exacerbated Tesla's sales slump in Europe.