Tesla Sales Crash As EU Drivers Snub Trump Backer Elon Musk

Tesla’s sales in Europe plunged by 40% in November, as the electric carmaker faces a backlash against Elon Musk’s support for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

 Tesla’s EU sales have dropped 15% compared to 2023. I Photo: Tesla X

Sales across the European Union fell to 18,786 units in November, compared to 31,810 a year earlier, Matt Oliver reported for The Telegraph.

Only three brands performed worse over the same period: Smart and Stellantis-owned Fiat and Chrysler. For the year-to-date (January to November), Tesla’s EU sales have dropped 15% compared to 2023.

This decline occurred alongside a broader 10% drop in electric car sales across the EU, with significant reductions in France (24%) and Germany (22%). Meanwhile, hybrid vehicle sales—excluding plug-ins—rose by 18.5%, overtaking petrol cars with a 33.2% market share.

Analysts attribute Tesla's struggles partly to the EU's new 7% tariffs on Chinese-made cars, including Tesla’s imports, and the company's aging lineup of vehicles.

Additionally, Musk’s endorsement of Trump is believed to have alienated some European buyers. Tesla’s earlier price cuts, which temporarily boosted sales last year, may also have set an unsustainable precedent.