TESLA’S EUROPEAN SALES SINK 34% IN NOVEMBER AS CHINESE EVS SURGE, POLITICAL CONTROVERSY BITES

Tue 23 December 2025:

According to data published on Tuesday by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Tesla, the leading US electric vehicle manufacturer, saw its EU sales fall by 34.2% year-on-year in November.

Billionaire Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla sold 12,130 units in the EU last month, ACEA’s report showed. The figure was 18,430 in the same month of 2024.

The market share of the company dropped to 1.4%, from 2.1% in November of last year.

In the first 11 months of the year, Tesla’s sales plummeted 38.8% in the EU compared to the same period of 2024, down to 129,024 units.

In Europe, including the EU, the European Free Trade Association, and the UK, Tesla’s sales also fell 11.8% year-on-year to 22,801 units.

Meanwhile, the overall battery electric car sales soared 44.1% to 188,730 units in the EU.

Meanwhile, the Chinese BYD, one of Tesla’s main competitors, saw its EU sales surge 235.2% year-on-year to 16,158 units.

BYD’s market share also rose to 1.8% in November, from 0.6% in the same month last year.

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Role of EU Political Backlash Against Elon Musk

A major contributing factor cited across multiple sources is consumer backlash against Elon Musk’s high-profile political activities. Musk’s vocal support for Donald Trump (including a role in the administration leading the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE), endorsements of far-right parties like Germany’s AfD, and controversial interventions in UK and other European politics alienated many progressive and environmentally conscious buyers—Tesla’s traditional core demographic in Europe.

This led to protests at Tesla showrooms → Vandalism → Boycott calls (e.g., from politicians in Poland and companies like German chain Rossmann suspending Tesla fleet purchases).

Evidence of brand damage → Polls and analyst reports showing reduced loyalty, with some owners adding stickers like “I bought this before Elon went crazy.”

Sharp sales drops in key markets → Drops coinciding with Musk’s increased political visibility, such as post-Trump election periods.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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