Tesla saw its European sales plummet by 49% year-on-year in January and February, despite a general increase in electric vehicle (EV) registrations across the continent.
New Tesla registrations within the European Union dropped to 19,046 in the first two months of the year compared to at least 37,000 during the same period in 2024, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) released this Tuesday.
The automotive trade group noted challenges Tesla faces, including increasing competition and the political scandal surrounding its owner, Elon Musk, which seems to be impacting sales.
These issues have led to a decline in Tesla’s market share from 2.1% to 1.1%. In February, Tesla accounted for only 1.8% of the total market and 10.3% of the Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) market, a decrease from the 2.8% and 21.6% respectively recorded in February of the previous year.
The aging design of Tesla’s models contributes to the declines as legacy carmakers and emerging Chinese manufacturers introduce fresher, more affordable EVs.
CEO Elon Musk’s commentary and financial backing for extreme-right organizations in Europe, as well as his association with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is threatening Europe with trade disputes, are also seen as detrimental to the brand’s image.
As a result, boycotts against Tesla have gained momentum within the EU and in the United States, with reports of Tesla dealerships being vandalized and a sharp dip in the company’s stock price.

Struggling in the slow lane

Despite EV sales growing by 28.4% in the EU during January and February, concerns are voiced about the need for more widespread support for the sector.
ACEA Director General Sigrid de Vries emphasized that while EV demand exists, it “is still below what is necessary for a successful transition to zero-emission mobility,” and advocated for more tax and purchasing incentives and investment in charging station infrastructure. The European Union is considering easing emission reduction targets in response.
Hybrid-electric vehicles led the market segment with 594,059 registrations, representing a 35.2% share of the market in the first two months of the year.
Electrified vehicles – encompassing battery-electric (BEV), hybrid (HEV), and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) – constituted 58.4% of all passenger car registrations in February, up from 48.2% in the same month the previous year.