POLITICO — 2025-03-24
News from Brussels
Tesla's downward spiral is turning into a rout, with its share of European electric car sales falling by 58% in the first two months of this year, dropping from 18.4% in 2024 to 7.7% for the same period this year, according to data from JATO Dynamics, an auto consulting firm.
To add insult to injury, Chinese EV brands sold nearly 20,000 vehicles in Europe last month, far outpacing Tesla's 15,700 units.
The American EV company is facing a global backlash, fueled by ire at CEO Elon Musk and his actions as a key adviser to US President Donald Trump.
In Europe, Germany is leading the charge in rejecting Tesla, which has one of its gigafactories outside Berlin. That's been fueled by a backlash against Musk after he spoke at a rally for the far-right Alternative for Germany party ahead of the February snap election.
More than 94% of respondents to a recent survey of 100,000 Germans said they would no longer buy a Tesla.
The steep fall in Tesla's market share comes as EV sales rebound; European electric car sales this February were 164,148, a 26% increase compared to the same month last year.
European brands make up the bulk of EV sales on the continent, but Chinese EV makers are gaining ground, despite the duties the Commission slapped on made-in-China electric vehicles last year.
BYD, the world's largest EV manufacturer, saw 4,400 vehicles registered in February, a 94% year-over-year increase.