In numerous European markets, Tesla experienced declining sales in March due to two major factors: a boycott sparked by the company’s owner, Elon Musk, and an outdated range of vehicles.
Sales of Tesla’s electric cars in France fell 36.8 percent in March from a year ago amid a slight drop in the overall electric car market, according to figures released Tuesday by the Automotive Platform (PFA), which represents the country’s manufacturers and suppliers.
According to Mobility Sweden, Tesla sales dropped by 63.9 percent in March and by 55.2 percent during the initial quarter of the year.
The Tesla Model Y SUV, the country’s top-selling car in the first quarter of 2024, is now behind two Volvos, the luxury Volkswagen ID.7, and a Subaru.
In Denmark, Tesla sales fell 56 percent in the first quarter, according to Mobility Denmark.
Germany, Britain, and Italy are set to release their March data in the upcoming days.
In the first two months of the year, Tesla’s sales within the European Union plummeted by nearly fifty percent, leaving the company with merely a 1.1 percent share of the market.
At the same time, vandalism against charging stations and the brand’s dealerships has increased, while several protests were held on Saturday outside retail locations in North America and Europe to contest Musk’s close cooperation with US President Donald Trump.
Stephanie Valdez Streaty from Cox Automotive stated that it was clear Elon Musk plays a significant role, with his actions impacting both the brand’s reputation and sales figures.
The environmental organization Mighty Earth encapsulated the purchasers’ predicament in a statement on Tuesday, noting that although Tesla’s electric vehicles have a favorable impact from a climate perspective, Musk’s leadership within the governmental energy-efficiency panel has been “undermining efforts against climate change, removing oversight from environmental regulators, and weakening the capacity of the U.S. administration to prevent oil, coal, and livestock businesses from emitting pollutants into the atmosphere and waters.”
In addition to political factors, Tesla’s vehicle lineup is becoming outdated and faces intense competition from new entrants in Europe and particularly Asia.
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