Tesla's vehicle sales across Europe tumbled nearly 50 percent in April, even as overall electric vehicle demand accelerated across the continent, according to data released on May 27 by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA).
Tesla sold only 7,261 cars in Europe last month, down from 14,228 a year ago -- a drop of 49 percent. Meanwhile, overall electric vehicle sales in the region jumped nearly 28 percent, showing how much ground Tesla is losing in one of its key markets.
While Tesla's dip partly reflects temporary factory shutdowns to upgrade its top-selling Model Y SUV, deeper issues are weighing on the brand, including consumer backlash against Tesla CEO Elon Musk's political activism.
"Starting next month, I'll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla, and now that the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is done," Musk told investors on an April 22 earnings call.
Musk added he will continue to support DOGE "to make sure that the waste and fraud that we stop does not come roaring back," with his remarks coming as Tesla reported a 71 percent income drop in the first quarter of 2025.
Some experts have pointed to Musk's alignment with Trump administration policies and controversial public statements as key drivers of consumer backlash, particularly in liberal-leaning markets where Tesla once thrived.
"He's alienated the wrong people," Galloway remarked, adding that Musk has instead "cozied up to the people who aren't interested in EVs."
"I did what needed to be done," Musk replied, while denouncing what he said was "massive violence" committed against his companies, along with threats against him and his employees.
"They're on the wrong side of history," Musk said of the perpetrators. "A number of them are going to prison -- and they deserve it."
Musk, who spent nearly $300 million backing Trump's 2024 campaign and those of other Republican candidates, said at the Qatar event that he would "do a lot less" political spending in the future. When asked why, he replied: "I think I've done enough."
At the same time, Musk left open the possibility of future contributions, while reaffirming his commitment to lead Tesla as its chief executive for at least another five years, joking that the only way he'd step down is "if I'm dead."