European Auto Market Recovers, but Tesla Sales Decline for Fifth Consecutive Month

Tesla's European Sales Drop 28% Year-on-Year

Bloomberg News reported on June 24 (local time) that while the European automobile market showed signs of recovery last month, Tesla's sales plummeted compared to the same period last year.

According to data released that day by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (EAMA), the number of new car registrations last month reached 1.11 million units, a 1.9% increase from the same period last year. After a 0.3% contraction in April, the market rebounded.

Tesla Model Y. AP Yonhap News

In particular, sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles surged by 46%, surpassing 100,000 units. Bloomberg explained that this indicates consumers prefer options that combine the convenience of batteries and fuel. The report also noted that high electric vehicle prices and limited access to charging infrastructure are causing consumers to hesitate in purchasing electric vehicles.

Sales of battery electric vehicles increased by 27%, bringing their overall market share to 17%. This growth was driven by the launch of more models and the continuation of government support measures in some countries. However, the pace of adoption still varies by region.

In contrast, Tesla has seen declining sales for five consecutive months. Tesla's market share in Europe fell from 1.8% in May last year to 1.2% in May this year. Tesla's deliveries in Europe in May dropped by 28%.

Bloomberg stated that intensified market competition and the political activities of CEO Elon Musk appear to have negatively impacted demand. CEO Musk previously served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Donald Trump administration in the United States and has drawn backlash from European consumers for his political actions, including expressing support for far-right parties in Germany. On the same day, Tesla was also ordered by the French Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) to halt exaggerated advertising claims.

According to separate data released that day by JATO Dynamics, Chinese manufacturers performed strongly in the European market last month. Chinese companies sold 65,808 vehicles across 28 European markets, achieving a market share of 5.9%. This is nearly double the 2.9% share recorded in the same month last year. As Chinese manufacturers have grown rapidly, BYD of China even surpassed Tesla's sales in the European market in April, marking a significant shift.

Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, analyzed that "despite the EU's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, Chinese car brands continue to show strong growth across Europe."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.