Tesla’s car sales in Europe nearly halved in the first two months of the year compared to the same period last year, according to figures released on Tuesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA).
Hampered by an ageing range of models and the reputation of its CEO Elon Musk, the electric car maker’s registrations fell by 49% in January and February, dropping to 19,046 vehicles and a 1.1% market share.
Despite this, the overall registrations of electric vehicles in the EU increased by 28.4% during the same period, reaching 255,489 vehicles and 15.2% of the market.
Tesla’s sales have been affected by Musk’s public support for former US President Donald Trump. Simultaneously, Tesla’s ageing product range faces stiff competition from a wave of new models launched by other manufacturers.
Tesla electric vehicles at a charging station in Alhambra, California on March 11, 2025. Credit: Belga / AFP
Electric vehicle sales are particularly growing in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, and are starting to rise in Spain and Italy.
However, this growth is not sufficient according to the automobile lobby, which states it "remains below the level needed for the transition to zero-emission mobility to progress," said Sigrid de Vries, the ACEA’s director-general, in a statement.
"As the European Commission’s proposal on easing penalties for cars and vans for the 2025-2027 period is about to be published, it will be equally important to address the fundamental bottlenecks hindering this transition," she added.
The ACEA emphasises the need for accelerated investments in charging infrastructure, targeted fiscal and purchase incentives for light and heavy vehicles, and reducing electricity costs for electric car owners.
On Monday, the Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD reported record profit and revenue for 2024, with the latter surpassing the symbolic $100 billion mark and outpacing its American rival Tesla.
