Struggling Tesla in France: Sales Tumble Significantly

Struggling Tesla in France: Sales Tumble Significantly

Let's Talk about Tesla's Rough Month in France, April 2025

📸 By Sabrina Guintini, Published on

The American electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla, is facing a tough time in France, as their sales continue to drop. April was particularly harsh, with a staggering 59% decrease compared to April 2024. Le Monde reports this alarming decline.

The overall new car market is currently 5.64% down this month, with 139,000 registrations recorded, according to the Automobile Platform (PFA). The interim general director of the PFA, Nicolas Le Bigot, stated, "We're facing a worryingly low market as compared to the pre-Covid period. With an uncertain economic context, French consumers are saving more." The economic consequences of Donald Trump's customs offensives since the beginning of the year also play a role in generating this uncertainty that affects the automotive sector.

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Not only Tesla is affected by this unfavorable situation. Stellantis also recorded a 12% year-over-year decrease, while Renault showed a 2% increase and overtook Stellantis in volume (39,000 cars registered in April, against 33,786). Volkswagen, however, saw an 8.5% drop.

When it comes to Tesla, one of the reasons behind the sales decrease might be CEO Elon Musk's image. Known for his closeness to Donald Trump, Musk's controversial actions since January have soured his reputation, likely tarnishing one of his most iconic creations, Tesla, in the process.

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When considering the decline in Tesla sales, it's also important to take into account the broad European struggles, including 60%+ drops in the UK and 80.7% in Sweden[1], despite a 12% YoY increase in Norway[1]. Curiously, Tesla's sliding sales could be the result of a combination of operational challenges and reputational risks, including market dynamics, product cycle, competitive pressure, and controversies surrounding Elon Musk himself.

References:

[1] Le Monde (2025, April 30). Le marché automobile français en mai est en chute libre – Le Monde.fr. Retrieved from [LINK]

[2] BloombergNEF (2025, April 16). Europe’s Electric Vehicle Market Shows Resilience Despite Supply Chain Woes – Bloomberg.com. Retrieved from [LINK]

[3] Les Echos (2025, April 30). Les ventes de voitures électriques en France continuent à baisser – Lesechos.fr. Retrieved from [LINK]

[4] Inside EVs (2025, April 28). Tesla Faces Steep Decline in Sales Despite Market Growth – Insideevs.com. Retrieved from [LINK]

[5] AFP (2025, April 28). Tesla’s sales drop by more than 50% in France in April – AFP.com. Retrieved from [LINK]

1. The unpopularity of Elon Musk, who is known for his closeness to Donald Trump, might have contributed to Tesla's decline in real estate, as his controversial actions since January could have tarnished the technology giant's image.
2. Despite a 12% year-over-year increase in Norway, Tesla sales saw a significant drop, exceeding 59% in France alone, indicating that the company's real estate in Europe is facing turbulent times.
3. springing from the overall slump in the new car market, both Tesla and Stellantis faced a decrease in their sales figures, with Tesla overtaking the former in terms of the number of cars sold in April 2025.
4. The sales of electric vehicles, including Tesla, have been affected not only by operational challenges but also by the broader European struggles, with significant drops in the UK and Sweden, while Renault managed to overtake both Tesla and Stellantis in sales volume during the same period.

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