Electric cars: sales explode in Europe … except for Tesla, which collapses

Europe accelerates its electric transition with strong growth figures for battery vehicles, however, in the middle of this boom, a name detonates by its counter-performance: Tesla. The Californian manufacturer, accustomed to the catwalks, records a severe decline in its sales, in reverse of the dynamism of the European market. The situation becomes worrying.

Tesla wins in full flight from the European electricity market

The European dynamic of the electric vehicle is impressive. According to the Association of European Automobiles (ACEA) manufacturers, 100 % electric car sales jumped almost 24 % in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 413,000 units. A surge carried notably by Germany (+38.9 %), Belgium (+29.9 %) and the Netherlands (+7.9 %). Conversely, France recorded a drop of 6.6 %.

However, in this conducive environment, Tesla is distinguished … by a heavy fall of 37 % over the same period, with barely 54,000 vehicles sold against 86,000 the previous year.

1. Volkswagen Group : 875,875 sales in T1 2025 (+5.7 %), 25.9 % market share.
2. Tesla : 54,020 sales in T1 2025 (-37.2 %), 1.6 % market share.
3. Stellantis : 525,283 sales in T1 2025 (-12.2 %), 15.5 % market share.
4. Renault Group: 344,519 sales in T1 2025 (+10.0 %), 10.2 % market share.
5. Hyundai Group: 267,234 sales in T1 2025 (-4.0 %), 7.9 % market share.
6. Toyota Group: 248,663 sales in T1 2025 (-4.4 %), 7.4 % market share.
7. BMW Group: 236,401 sales in T1 2025 (+0.5 %), 7.0 % market share.
8. Mercedes-Benz: 165,518 sales in T1 2025 (-5.4 %), 4.9 % market share.
9. Saic Motor: 78,505 sales in T1 2025 (+33.5 %), 2.3 % market share.
10. Ford: 114,678 sales in T1 2025 (-1.9 %), 3.4 % market share.

Even the month of March, however marked by the arrival of the new model ywas not enough to straighten the bar. Registrations have further fell 28 % compared to March 2024. While Volkswagen, Renault and SAIC display solid progressions, Tesla seems disconnected from the European market. Admittedly, some defenders of the brand point to the transition to the new Y model, but this explanation struggles to convince in the face of the magnitude of the dropout, especially since the offer has resumed its cruising rate.

This 37 % fall in Tesla sales in Europe is part of a general, worrying dynamic for the Elon Musk firm. A few days before the publication of these figures, Tesla revealed a brutal dropout of its global profits: -71 % in the first quarter of 2025. A resounding slap for a manufacturer who, recently, surfaces on insolent growth.

Does this withdraw a deeper disenchantment for Tesla in Europe? Despite aggressive promotions (one year of free charging and zero rate on Model Y) the demand no longer follows. If the trend continues, Tesla could be relegated to the background, under the mark of the 200,000 annual vehicles from 2026. An unthinkable scenario a few years ago.