Tesla’s Sales in Europe Plunge 49% in April, Dampening EV Market Gains

Car sales in Europe saw a slight decline in April, dropping 0.3% year-on-year, with overall volumes reaching 1.07 million units across the EU, UK, and EFTA countries. While electric vehicle (EV) sales surged, Tesla’s steep 49% drop in registrations significantly undercut the segment’s momentum.

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), Tesla’s sales decline marked the fourth consecutive monthly fall, with its market share slipping from 1.3% to just 0.7%. The U.S. automaker’s recent Model Y refresh has failed to reverse its slipping brand appeal, compounded by growing Chinese EV competition and ongoing backlash tied to CEO Elon Musk's public image.

In contrast, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rose 27.8%, and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid (HEV) models gained 7.8% and 20.8% respectively. Electrified vehicles accounted for 59.2% of all passenger car sales in the EU, up from 47.7% a year ago.

Among automaker, China’s SAIC and Mitsubishi posted significant growth at 24.5% and 22.1%, while Mazda’s sales plunged 24.5%.

Regionally, Spain (+7.1%) and Italy (+2.7%) saw modest growth, but France (-5.6%), Germany (-0.2%), and the UK (-10.4%) recorded declines.

Despite policy-driven demand for cleaner transport, industry optimism remains clouded by economic uncertainty, U.S. tariff pressure, and the risk of plant closures across Europe.