Tesla European Sales Halve Amid Musk Boycott, Competition

Tesla has experienced a sharp decline in European sales, with reductions ranging from 49% to over 53% year-over-year in April 2025, despite overall growth in the European electric vehicle market. This downturn is attributed to multiple factors including a backlash against CEO Elon Musk's political affiliations, especially his ties to former President Trump, which have led to protests and calls for boycotts across Europe. Additionally, Tesla faces intensified competition from more affordable Chinese EV brands like BYD, which have increased their sales significantly during the same period. Consumer surveys across key global markets reveal declining interest in Tesla as a preferred EV brand, largely due to brand saturation, a limited vehicle lineup, and affordability concerns, with political polarization also influencing purchase consideration in the U.S. Analysts emphasize the need for Tesla to innovate and introduce lower-priced models to regain market share amid these challenges. Musk has responded by committing to spend more time focusing on Tesla and key projects while stepping back from his unofficial role in the Trump administration.