European sales of Tesla electric cars have dropped by 49% in the first two months of 2025, compared to the same period last year, according to data from the ACEA manufacturers’ association released on Tuesday.
The decline has been attributed to ageing Tesla models and potential customer backlash against Elon Musk, following his vocal support for U.S. President Donald Trump.
Musk, Tesla’s billionaire owner, has been at the forefront of a divisive cost-cutting drive, leading the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His political alignment with Trump has sparked controversy, with reports of Tesla dealerships being vandalized across the U.S. in recent weeks. The company’s stock price has also plummeted over the past month.
According to the ACEA, new Tesla registrations in the European Union fell to 19,046 in January and February, reducing Tesla’s market share to just 1.1%.
In February alone, Tesla sales declined 47%, with only 11,743 new registrations.
Meanwhile, the overall EU electric vehicle market is experiencing growth. EV sales rose by 28.4%, reaching 255,489 units in the first two months of 2025, securing a 15.2% market share.
Despite the rise in EV sales, ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries emphasized that demand for battery electric vehicles remains below the necessary levels for a full transition to zero-emission mobility.
She called for tax incentives and investments in charging infrastructure, especially as the EU prepares to relax emission reduction targets for struggling European automakers.
Hybrid-electric vehicles have become the biggest market segment, with 594,059 registrations in the first two months of 2025, capturing a 35.2% market share.
This outpaced petrol and diesel vehicles, which accounted for 29.1% and 9.7% of the market, respectively, in February.
