Europeans tend to be warmer toward EVs than Americans, but they aren’t warming to Tesla in the way they once did. The automaker’s most recent sales numbers from November show a significant drop, to the tune of almost 41 percent, and that’s just the latest report in a year full of disappointments for Tesla’s European operations.
InsideEVs reported that Tesla’s EU registrations have dropped by more than 30,000 units so far this year, and the more recent decline cuts into the automaker’s market share, pushing it down from 3.6 percent to 2.2. Tesla also saw sales tumble in EU-adjacent trade circles, such as the European Free Trade Association, which includes the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and Iceland.
These disappointing numbers can be at least partially linked to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s near-nonstop presence in the media and his often controversial involvement in global politics. Chinese EVs are also a problem for Tesla in Europe, but all automakers are hitting turbulence as buyer demand shifts and governments waver on continuing electric vehicle incentives.
While Tesla remains one of the largest EV producers in the world, its fortunes in the United States haven’t been particularly promising, either. The company’s U.S. sales fell during the first half of this year, which coincided with its stumbles in Europe.
[Images: Tesla]
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Source: The Truth About Cars
