Tesla has seen its European sales collapse by one-third this year as the carmaker’s boss Elon Musk stirs up controversy across the Continent.
Figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed Tesla sold 109,879 vehicles in Europe between January and June.
This was down 33 per cent from the 164,569 vehicles it sold over the same period in 2024 across the EU, EFTA countries and the UK.
Mr Musk, the world’s richest man, has been blamed for making Tesla unpopular in Europe due to his political interventions.
He previously allied himself to US President Donald Trump – prior to a dramatic falling-out – and has regularly championed Europe’s far-right political parties.
The South African-born billionaire has voiced support for Alternative for Germany (AfD) and National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, in France.
Mr Musk has also involved himself in British politics and launched a barrage of attacks on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over issues such as grooming gangs.
He briefly flirted with donating some of his vast riches to Reform UK, but later publicly told party leader Nigel Farage he ‘doesn’t have what it takes’.
In the US, Mr Musk and Tesla have suffered a blow after Mr Trump scrapped tax credits that lowered the cost of electric vehicles in America.
Despite having thrown his support behind Mr Trump’s election campaign last year, Mr Musk has since dramatically turned on the US President.
He has been a fierce critic of Mr Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’, which slashed the electric vehicle support, and also the US President’s imposition of trade tariffs.
Mr Musk also last month claimed Mr Trump appeared in files relating to the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Trump is under increasing pressure from his own supporters to deliver on a campaign promise to release all files related to Epstein.
The US President has accused his voters of falling for what he called a ‘radical left’ hoax by his opponents to discredit him.
Tesla shares slumped in pre-market trading in the US on Thursday after Mr Musk warned of a ‘few rough quarters’ ahead for the vehicle manufacturer.
As well as a backlash to Mr Musk’s political views and cuts to electric vehicle support in the US, Tesla is facing increasing competition from low-cost rivals in China.
Daniel Binns, global CEO at brand consultancy Elmwood, said: ‘Musk is the face of Tesla, and for many people, the brand can’t exist outside of his influence.
‘So, when his credibility and trust decline, so does the equity of the Tesla brand.
‘In parallel, we’ve seen the EV market rapidly mature and Tesla is no longer the shining star.’