Tesla is facing a massive sales drop in Europe and the U.K. New data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association reveals a staggering 49% year-over-year decline, with only 7,261 vehicles sold in April.
The issue started even with the recent launch of the new Model Y, a vehicle that typically drives consumer interest. Competitors like BYD are gaining traction, and market research from Jato Dynamics reports a 59% rise in registrations of Chinese-made EVs, hitting nearly 15,300 units.
Tesla’s global performance isn’t looking good either. In Q1 2025, the company logged 336,681 deliveries, marking its least successful quarter in over two years. This slump coincides with CEO Elon Musk’s controversial political affiliations, leading many to speculate they may be affecting the brand’s reputation abroad. 
Musk’s recent political actions, including leading a group that laid off thousands in the U.S. government, have been deemed controversial. He’s even acknowledged needing to focus once again on Tesla after public backlash.
For context, overall car registrations in the EU and U.K. fell just 0.3% year-over-year in April, but EV sales surged by 27.8%. Hybrids enjoyed a notable 31% sales increase.
With competitors rising and Tesla’s sales plummeting, the spotlight is on Musk to turn things around as pressure mounts.
