Tesla EU sales slump 52% in April: Trade group
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Once the standout leader in electric car sales, Tesla was overtaken in April by 10 rivals.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS - Sales of cars made by Mr Elon Musk’s Tesla slumped by more than half in April as Chinese electric vehicle makers saw their share surge, a European industry group said on May 27.
While sales of electric cars rose overall in the 27 European Union nations, Tesla’s share fell dramatically amid the spotlight on Mr Musk’s work with US President Donald Trump and the US company’s ageing range.
The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (Acea) said Tesla sales in April fell to 5,475 cars, down 52.6 per cent from the same month in 2024.
In the first four months of 2025, Tesla sales have fallen 46.1 per cent against the same period in 2024 to 41,677 cars.
Once the standout leader in electric car sales, Tesla was overtaken in April by 10 rivals, including Volkswagen, BMW, Renault and Chinese maker BYD, according to Jato Dynamics consultants.
Tesla announced in April that its worldwide sales in the first quarter had fallen 13 per cent, increasing pressure on Mr Musk, though the company partly blamed lost production amid an upgrade to its Model Y standard-bearer.
Mr Musk has since announced that he will reduce his work helping Mr Trump slash US government spending, and last week said Tesla sales are “doing well”.
Skoda’s new Elroq led electric car sales, while Tesla’s Model Y, the former front runner, came in ninth.
Sales of electric cars overall rose 26.4 per cent from 2024 to take a 15.3 per cent share of the market in April, according to Acea.
The rise is uneven across Europe as different governments and manufacturers give different incentives to buy electric. Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain have seen a major rise, while electric car sales in France have fallen.
“The share of battery-electric vehicles is slowly getting momentum, but growth remains incremental and uneven across EU countries,” said Ms Sigrid de Vries, director-general of Acea.
“In order for battery-electric vehicles to become a mainstream choice, it is essential that governments continue to implement the necessary enabling conditions, such as purchase and fiscal incentives, recharging infrastructure and electricity prices.”
She added: “The sustained popularity of hybrid vehicles among consumers also shows the merit of keeping a technology-neutral approach.”
Sales of hybrid cars with a small electric battery still dominate the European market, rising 20.8 per cent since the start of 2025, while sales of petrol-only cars have fallen 20.6 per cent over the same time.
The Volkswagen group remains the top brand in Europe, with sales up 2.9 per cent in April.
But Chinese brands were a major factor in the popularity of electric and hybrid cars, according to Jato, and have 7.9 per cent of the European market.
The BYD, MG, Xpeng and Leapmotor brands saw sales rise 59 per cent over the year in electric and hybrid sales, while other manufacturers put on 26 per cent.
Jato expert Felipe Munoz said it remains to be seen whether the EU imposes tariffs on Chinese hybrid cars, as it has for electric vehicles. AFP
