Tesla sales plunge in key European markets with one shocking exception
Tesla sales plunge in key European markets with one shocking exception originally appeared on TheStreet.
Tesla () is preparing for a historic event, as it gears up to launch its first fleet of autonomous robotaxis in Austin, Texas. But so far this week, other events have sparked negative momentum, pushing shares down.
The company's plan to venture into the self-driving car market is currently being overshadowed by CEO Elon Musk's disagreement with Donald Trump over the new budget bill, which he has described as a 'disgusting abomination.'
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As of this writing, TSLA stock is down more than 20% for the past week and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. But these declines likely aren't due strictly to Musk and Trump's argument. Tesla's sales are falling steadily across many European markets, including the United Kingdom, France, and Spain.
While this may seem discouraging to investors, there remains one outlier among European countries where Tesla sentiment has been declining.
For months, European citizens have been making it clear that they won't be standing behind Musk. Protests erupted across the continent in response to his affiliations with Trump, and even as growth in the electric vehicle (EV) market rose, Tesla sales steadily trended downward.Sales declined in both the U.S. and China as well, highlighting the global aspect of the anti-Tesla backlash. Even the widespread availability of the popular Tesla Model Y and significant discounts haven't been enough to boost sales.
Recent data reveals that while Tesla's deliveries for May 2025 were down significantly from where they were one year ago in most European markets, one country saw Tesla sales surge.
Norway has reported that Tesla sales are up 213% from May 2024, reaching 2,600 in total. Its Scandinavian neighbors reported different statistics, with Tesla sales falling steadily in both Sweden and Finland. But part of the reason why they didn't dip in Norway may be due to the country's strong push toward accelerating EV adoption.
'Nine out of 10 new cars sold in Norway last year were fully electric vehicles, and the EV share of sales year-to-date stands at 92.7%, the Norwegian Road Federation said, bringing it close to a goal of phasing out diesel and petrol automobiles,' Reuters reports.
Additionally, it should be noted that Tesla also reported concerningly low sales in Norway for May 2024. In this case, the contrast is important, as it suggests that Tesla's popularity in that specific market may not be as high as it appears at first glance.
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As Electrek notes, 'It's clear that the anomaly was more with May 2024 than incredible performance in May 2025, even though there's no doubt that Tesla's sales have recovered in Norway last month. That's partly due to Tesla offering record discounts, including zero-interest financing on the new Model Y.'
While Tesla has not issued any statements on its plunging sales across Europe, it did post on X celebrating its 213% growth in Norway. That statistic is certainly an anomaly, given how much Tesla's sales have fallen in similar markets, but it doesn't mean the company's problems in Europe are over.As Electrek's analysis also notes, '2,500 Norwegians buying Tesla vehicles in May isn't compensating for the declines in other markets,' speculating that recent success in Norway may not be sustainable in the second half of 2025. For that to happen, the company will need to reverse the current consumer sentiment that has spread across Europe.
Experts have told TheStreet that they believe Europe's stance against Musk will negatively impact the company. 'When Europe turns on your brand, a lot of the world follows,' states Galileo FX CEO David Materazzi. 'Lose Europe, lose your edge. Musk built it, and now he's sinking it.'
Additionally, Norway is only one part of Europe's market, and Tesla is also dealing with declining sales in both China and the U.S., larger markets that stand to impact it more than anywhere in Europe.Tesla sales plunge in key European markets with one shocking exception first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 6, 2025
This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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