Tesla just suffered a brutal sales drop in Europe, with numbers plunging 44% in February. Across the UK, EU, Norway, and Switzerland, the electric car giant sold fewer than 16,000 vehicles – its worst February in five years.
Meanwhile, its biggest rivals are surging ahead, leaving Tesla in the dust.
🔥 What’s behind the decline?
Tesla blames supply chain changes, including a phase-out of the Model Y, its best-selling car. However, analysts suggest something much bigger is happening: Elon Musk’s increasingly controversial political involvement.
Musk, now a senior figure in Donald Trump’s administration, has:
- Backed Germany’s far-right AfD party.
- Waved a ‘chainsaw of democracy’ at a conservative rally.
- Accused Keir Starmer of covering up grooming gang scandals.
His actions have sparked boycotts, dealership protests, and investor concerns. Some Tesla fans appear to be jumping ship.
🇬🇧 The UK bucks the trend
While Tesla struggled across Europe, UK sales rose by nearly 21% in February, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
The Model 3 and Model Y ranked second and third among the UK’s best-selling cars, trailing only the Mini Cooper. But will this trend hold?
⚡ Tesla’s rivals are thriving
While Tesla stalls, other brands are accelerating.
- Volkswagen: Sales up 180%, with nearly 20,000 electric cars sold.
- BMW & Mini: 19,000 EVs sold in February.
- BYD (China’s biggest EV brand): Sales up 94%, with over 4,000 cars sold in Europe.
Meanwhile, BYD just made history by overtaking Tesla in global revenue, raking in $100bn (£83bn) in 2024, compared to Tesla’s $97.7bn.
The Chinese car giant is aiming to sell between 5 and 6 million vehicles this year, closing in on Ford’s global sales numbers.
📉 Tesla’s stock struggles
Despite its sales slump, Tesla still holds a market value of $780bn. However, its share price has dropped by over a third in 2025.
On Monday, Tesla shares rose by 6%, but overall, the company is under serious pressure.
📊 The bigger picture
Across the 25 EU markets, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland, overall car sales fell by 3% in February. But the electric car market is still growing – battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations rose by 25%.
That means Tesla isn’t struggling because EVs are losing popularity. It’s struggling because its competitors are leaving it behind.
With Musk’s controversies making headlines and brands like BYD on the rise, Tesla’s future in Europe is looking more uncertain than ever.
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