<figure id="attachment_3069796" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3069796" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3069796 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/9d2bdc5e-12936511_1600x1000_1.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3069796" class="wp-caption-text">April sales in the EU, Britain and the European Free Trade Association fell to 1.07 million cars, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association showed. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
FRANKFURT: Tesla&#8217;s sales in Europe fell 49% in April from a year earlier, even as battery-electric sales rose by 27.8%, as the US electric vehicle (EV) maker&#8217;s upgrade of its Model Y shows little sign of improving the brand&#8217;s tarnished image in the region.
Overall car sales in the region remained roughly consistent with last year, falling just 0.3%, with the strongest sales growth coming from electric and plug-in hybrid cars, data by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed.
Why its important
Tesla&#8217;s sales in Europe continue to drop, reflecting a shift away from the brand as Chinese competition strengthens and some protest against Elon Musk&#8217;s political views.
European carmakers strive to cut domestic costs and tackle competition amid US tariffs on auto imports and a slowing global economy, with uncertainty overshadowing the industry&#8217;s outlook despite eased US-China trade tensions.
By the numbers
April sales in the EU, Britain and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) fell to 1.07 million cars, following a 2.8% growth a month before, the ACEA data showed.
Registrations at Chinese state-owned automaker SAIC Motor and Mitsubishi grew by 24.5% and 22.1% respectively, while they fell by 24.5% at Mazda.
Tesla&#8217;s sales fell for a fourth month in a row, down 49% year-on-year, and its share of the total market nearly halved to 0.7% from 1.3% a year ago.
In just the EU &#8211; not including Britain and the EFTA &#8211; total car sales fell 1.2% year-on-year, declining for a fourth consecutive month, as the registrations of battery electric vehicle (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid electric (HEV) cars grew by 26.4%, 7.8% and 20.8% respectively.
Electrified vehicles &#8211; either BEV, HEV or PHEV &#8211; sold in the bloc accounted for 59.2% of passenger car registrations in April, up from 47.7% in the previous year.
Among the largest EU markets, total car sales in Spain and Italy increased by 7.1% and 2.7% respectively, while in France and Germany they dropped by 5.6% and 0.2%.
In Britain, registrations were down 10.4%.
Context
Growing interest in Europe&#8217;s EV market, driven by emission targets and cheaper models, contrasts with global policies encouraging EVs amid trade tensions, slowing markets, and potential plant closures and job losses.

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