Early car sales data for January is starting to arrive from countries across the pond, and they paint an alarming picture for Tesla. Sales are crashing in France, Germany, and the UK—all affluent countries that are key markets for Tesla’s electric vehicles. Coming on the heels of a large financial miss, it’s just one more problem for the automaker.
Tesla sales dropped around 13 percent across Europe in 2024, but so far this year, the scale of the problem is far greater. In France, sales of new Teslas fell by 63 percent, while total car sales in the country fell by just 6 percent, with EV sales dropping just half a percent.
Germany was already looking like lost ground for Tesla—its 41 percent drop in 2024 accounted for most of Tesla’s lost sales across Europe. That must make the 59 percent drop in German Tesla sales recorded during January even more painful on the profit and loss statements.
Across the Channel, the British auto industry just released its sales data for January. Here, Tesla sales fell less precipitously—just 12 percent. However, battery EV sales were 35 percent higher in the UK in January 2025 than in January 2024. The cake is growing, but Tesla is getting to eat less and less of it.
In fact, no Tesla cracked the UK’s top 10 best-seller list last month, something that has regularly happened in the past, although that may be due to having just two models for >sale in most markets.
Large declines have also been recorded in Sweden (44 percent), Norway (38 percent), and the Netherlands (42 percent).
This sparks joy.
kurcatovium@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
Gimme cheap, simple and reliable EV with guaranteed 200km range and I’m sold. I don’t need bazillion of cameras inside and out, I don’t need glass roof, I don’t need always online maps for a subscription fee (obviously I have that on my phone for free already) and I don’t need 20" infotainment, neither I need 3 zone AC with ventilated seats and ballsack massage device, etc. I just want a Dacia of EV market.
SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Microlino, Fiat panda grande, Renault 5, Citroën Ami and others. The smaller and more affordable versions are getting there.
SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Any of those in the US market?
I’ve only seen Rivians and Teslas in my parts.
kurcatovium@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
Not a single one of them is available where I live. And once I checked them, they’re not really family cars I was hoping for.
WolfmanEightySix@piefed.social 4 weeks ago
There’s a little blue Honda EV I see at work. Looks smart as.
Mvlad88@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
So Dacia Spring?
casmael@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
Good news everyone!
kurcatovium@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
If I was alone, this would be an option. With family, not so much. I’ve heard horrible stories, struggling to go uphill with 4 people on board, etc. And I live in a hilly area.
brucethemoose@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Coincidentlaly, throwing all this junk out makes EV’s significantly lighter.
They kinda suffer from “the tyranny of the rocket equation” since so much of their mass is “fuel.” Make it lighter, and they need less battery, which means you need even less battery to carry that battery around, less chassis and suspension weight for that, which removes more battery, and so on.
Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
The Aptera coming out follows this principle. It’s the only EV that’s light enough that the onboard solar panels contribute a significant boost in range.
dan@upvote.au 4 weeks ago
Fully solid-state batteries are just around the corner - some Chinese models already have a semi-solid-state battery, MG are releasing one this year, companies like Toyota and Honda are working on it too. The current use case is to extend range (600+ miles / 1000+ kms) but they could also be used to get similar range as today’s cars with a much lighter battery.
neo2478@sh.itjust.works 4 weeks ago
The fiat 500 e fits all that and it’s a delight to drive.
kurcatovium@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
It’s a cool car, yes. Too small for me, but cool as fuck. Used ones are affordable, but it’s still 34k € new, which is not cheap at all.
Empricorn@feddit.nl 4 weeks ago
Ballsack massage device you say…
BeatTakeshi@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
I had the option, it drives you nuts
sznowicki@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Dacia Spring. You’re welcome.
Neon@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
VW E-Up is cheap and really good
helloworld55@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
Just wondering, what qualifies as cheap for you?