We don’t usually report on month-to-month gross sales information for one automotive firm in a single market, however this one appears notably notable given all that’s happening on this planet. In one other signal that Elon Musk’s firm is in an actual robust spot, Tesla is getting completely demolished in Europe. The firm’s gross sales within the EU, UK, and European Free Trade Association fell a staggering 49 p.c in April yr over yr, whilst general battery-electric car gross sales rose.
The new figures from the European Automobiles Manufacturers Association revealed that Tesla solely logged 7,261 new car registrations in April, almost half of what it recorded in April 2024. The numbers are notably notable contemplating Tesla just lately launched the refreshed Model Y, an replace on the worldwide best-seller which was anticipated to draw a number of recent clients. Instead, it seems the technique has to this point been a failure.
Despite Musk’s optimistic speak in regards to the Model Y’s gross sales prospects, Tesla’s model disaster seems to be deepening. And it’s not as a result of European shoppers are souring on electrical autos; within the first 4 months of 2025, new battery-electric automotive gross sales grew by 26.4 p.c, to 558,262 items, capturing 15.3 p.c of the whole EU market share.
Despite Musk’s optimistic speak in regards to the Model Y’s gross sales prospects, Tesla’s model disaster seems to be deepening.
Tesla’s falling fortunes might be chalked as much as a number of elements, together with rising competitors from home producers and Chinese rivals, and Musk’s efforts to slash federal spending for the Trump administration as a part of DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk’s political meddling within the EU, the place he got here out in help of Germany’s far-right social gathering forward of that nation’s elections, seems to have completed Tesla few favors as nicely.
Musk appears to be conscious that his political actions are having an opposed impact on Tesla. He just lately claimed he would spend much less time in Washington and focus extra on his firm — though he additionally stated he would keep concerned in Trump’s White House by way of the tip of the president’s time period in workplace.
But whereas Republicans have been as soon as thrilled by Musk’s allegiance to Trump, the nation as an entire is sick of his antics. A current Reuters/Ipsos ballot discovered that 58 p.c of respondents had an unfavorable view of Musk, in comparison with 39 p.c who considered him favorably. And it might seem to be the technique of tying Musk carefully to his corporations’ manufacturers has backfired. A survey gauging the reputations of prime corporations ranked Tesla ninety fifth and SpaceX 86th, down from the eighth highest rated model and fifth highest 4 years in the past, respectively.
During final month’s quarterly earnings name, Musk confidently advised traders that Tesla’s gross sales would decide again up after manufacturing unit closures for the refreshed Model Y was all settled. But with the CEO so targeted on AI, robotics, and self-driving automobiles, it’s not clear that there’s any speedy repair to Tesla’s compounding issues.
