Tesla's EU sales drop 49% YoY in early 2025

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Mar 2025 09:21

Musk, who now leads the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has spearheaded an aggressive and controversial cost-cutting campaign.

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A Tesla Cybertruck and other Tesla vehicles sit at a dealership, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Kennesaw, Ga. (AP)

Tesla’s electric car sales in Europe dropped 49% in January and February compared to the same period last year, according to data released Tuesday by the ACEA manufacturers’ association.

The decline has been attributed in part to Tesla’s aging vehicle lineup, but industry analysts suggest that some electric vehicle buyers may also be boycotting the brand in response to Elon Musk’s strong backing of US President Donald Trump.

Musk, who now leads the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has spearheaded an aggressive and controversial cost-cutting campaign.

In recent weeks, multiple Tesla dealerships across the United States have been vandalized, while the company’s stock has suffered a sharp decline over the past month.

According to the ACEA, new Tesla registrations in the European Union fell to 19,046 during the first two months of 2025, leaving the company with a market share of just 1.1%. In February alone, Tesla registrations were down 47%, totaling 11,743.

The wider context

The slump in Tesla’s sales contrasts with an overall surge in electric vehicle demand across the EU. In the first two months of the year, total EV registrations rose 28.4% to 255,489, accounting for a 15.2% share of the market.

However, ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries cautioned that “the latest new car registration figures confirm that market demand for battery electric vehicles remains below the level needed for the transition to zero-emission mobility to progress.”

She emphasized the importance of tax incentives, purchasing subsidies, and infrastructure investments in charging stations, especially as the EU considers easing emission reduction targets to support struggling European automakers.

Hybrid-electric vehicles continued to dominate the market in early 2025, with 594,059 registrations, securing a 35.2% market share. This segment outperformed both petrol and diesel models, which held market shares of 29.1% and 9.7%, respectively, in February.