this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2025
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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).

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[–] kurcatovium@lemm.ee 125 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (12 children)

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 200kW of ridiculous power I would never use, I don't need always online maps for a subscription fee 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 35 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Microlino, Fiat panda grande, Renault 5, Citroën Ami and others. The smaller and more affordable versions are getting there.

[–] SinningStromgald@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Any of those in the US market?

I've only seen Rivians and Teslas in my parts.

[–] DontTreadOnBigfoot@lemmy.world 23 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

You've probably seen a lot more electric vehicles than you realize. Almost every big manufacturer has them in their lineups at this point, just most of them are looking more and more conventional.

Take a look at the Honda Prologue, the Toyota BZ4X, the Kia Niro EV6 or EV9, VW ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq line and Kona, Ford Mach E, Chevy Equinox EV or Blazer EV.

There's also EV versions the F150, Chevy Silverado, and Hummer. Supposedly RAM will have an EV truck soon, too.

Granted there are fewer compact sizes than in European markets, but that's true of all vehicles, regardless of powertrain

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[–] Mvlad88@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] casmael@lemm.ee 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (7 children)

Coincidentlaly, throwing all this junk out makes EV's significantly lighter. And theoretically cheaper.

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 for the same range, which means you need even less battery to carry that battery around, lighter motors, less chassis and suspension weight for that, which removes even more battery, and so on.

This is not the case with combustion cars, where much of the engine's mass is fixed and gasoline takes up little weight.

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[–] neo2478@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

The fiat 500 e fits all that and it’s a delight to drive.

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[–] Valmond@lemmy.world 105 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] xavier666@lemm.ee 9 points 2 weeks ago

Or sparks fire, considering it's Tesla

[–] magnetosphere@fedia.io 81 points 2 weeks ago (8 children)

Its investment in the Cybertruck is of no help in the region, as the steel-clad pickup truck is too large and heavy for use with a normal driver's license and does not conform to road legality regulations.

I was not aware of this. Further reasons to laugh at Musk are always welcome!

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 38 points 2 weeks ago (9 children)

Anyone driving anything close to a pickup here is a knob. Ford Rangers or Raptors are for men whos wives dress them.

Hilux was acceptable but they are in the same boat now, you all look ridiculous.

[–] cynar@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

They have there place, but they are in the same boat as vans etc. They are commercial vehicles, to do a job, not city runabouts to stroke egos.

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[–] Sturgist@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 weeks ago (14 children)

I'm a sole trader, Stone Mason, I make enough to buy a used vehicle, but not new. Know what I would love? A light duty truck, no crew cab road princess bullshit, two seats in front, maybe a single half door passenger side for putting stuff behind the seats, and a properly sized bed. There's no such thing on the used market. There's absolutely uses for small trucks for trades folk. Back in Canada I had an older Ford Ranger, from when they were a rebadged Mitsubishi B3200. I would step over my dying gran for something like that here in the UK. The new Rangers are a fucking joke, FWD, crew cab standard, and they're the size of the old F-150s, completely unusable in the UK. I'm thinking about maybe importing a Japanese Kei Truck. There's some larger ones that are smaller than an old Ranger, but big enough for what I need....and they look cool AF.

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[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

This metal blob goes against so many safety regulations in Europe, it is basically unfixable. And even then you would need a truckers licence to drive it, like the ones for big commercial trucks.

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[–] OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca 79 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Europeans don't want to drive a Swasticar? Why? Did something happen to make them dislike Nazis for some reason?

[–] LouNeko@lemmy.world 24 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Looks at my VW

*Erika intensifies*

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[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 53 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Turns out that siding against voters interested in human sustainability, and pro oil extortionist conservatives bent on climate and human destruction is not a good EV marketing strategy. I have an MBA... AMA

[–] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 39 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

Also doing a nazi salute in front of thousands of people with full blown media coverage.

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[–] Teknikal@eviltoast.org 48 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Honestly people would have to be basically mad to buy tesla now, same with twitter etc.

I sympathise with people who starlink is the only option but yeah I'd rather go without.

[–] bitchkat@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I recently bought a camper van and was planning on getting starlink so I can work from the road (not full time). I guess I'll have to make sure I'm not off the beaten path on work days and stick to Hotspot.

[–] FabledAepitaph@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago

This is the way. I wish more people would accept what is quite literally only minor inconvenience in the name of starving these insane companies. We honestly have it so good in most of modern society, and some things are just totally optional imo.

Thanks

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[–] ShotDonkey@lemmy.world 41 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Well for obvious reasons. But also bcs their product is crap quality. My neighbour keeps on pouring grand after grand for stupid repairs into his model S

[–] Jericho_Kane@lemmy.org 18 points 2 weeks ago

That can't be, teslas never break and don't need maintenance. Many people said it, smart people

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[–] Venetas@discuss.tchncs.de 37 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

I'm not going to sell a perfectly useable Model Y after a year just because the CEO is a cunt. But I'm going to tell everyone that he's a cunt with 30 stickers plastered all over the useless rear window

[–] comfy@lemmy.ml 18 points 2 weeks ago

Sell it to who, Ben? Fucking Aquaman?

Good choice, no point throwing it away if it was too late for you to realize, but it's more powerful as a platform to disavow Musk and Tesla.

The US is collapsing and all I got was this lousy car

[–] SouthEndSunset@lemm.ee 13 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Fair point. I won’t judge Tesla drivers. I’ll judge Tesla drivers that don’t have a load of stickers on their car.

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[–] Bezier@suppo.fi 11 points 2 weeks ago

I remember headlines of people burning their Nikes when they learned the company was woke or something. Burn your car mate, that'll show them for sure!

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[–] MyOpinion@lemm.ee 35 points 2 weeks ago

Let’s get to 95% down in Q1 of 2025.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 28 points 2 weeks ago

Well, I did Nazi that coming

[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 24 points 2 weeks ago

Elon Musk should have his wealth forcefully redistributed

[–] drmoose@lemmy.world 23 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The TSLA crash going to be glorious, can't wait.

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[–] tiredofsametab@fedia.io 20 points 2 weeks ago

I thought the Powerball and may even some solar stuff they were doing would suit our needs. The last few years quickly removed any such notion from my mind; not touching anything tied to that nazi manbaby

[–] spirinolas@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Maybe Musk should sue them...

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[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 16 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

May every business that brings this man profit tank until he learns some empathy.

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[–] PhAzE@lemmy.ca 15 points 2 weeks ago

No one wants to drive a swasticar.

[–] jaemo@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

Doing a from-heart-to-sun salute tends to hurt sales in UK and Germany, who woulda thought. The stereotype about French is that they don't care and might even like it, but maybe this is also about build and design quality.

[–] bzah@discuss.tchncs.de 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

You may want to read the text before commenting nonsense, the French are not pleased either.

| Sales are crashing in France, Germany, and the UK [...] In France, sales of new Teslas fell by 63 percent

I don't see what justify your attack, it seems unnecessary to attack people based on their nationality. Yes, we do have a far-right issue in France, but it's pretty much the same as everywhere else in Europe and there is still a resisting left here, not all hope is lost. Also, regarding your comment below, the white flag stereotype for France comes from 2003, when the US and allies invaded and destroyed Irak, but for once France stood against the US imperialism.___

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[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Tesla doesn't deserve to tarnish the great inventor's name. Elon more specifically. But who knows, possibly the company's management team are all mini Elons. The workers they are not at fault.

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[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 12 points 2 weeks ago

Is the manbaby gonna sue every European for not buying his shitass cars now?

[–] Viri4thus@feddit.org 11 points 2 weeks ago

Teslas are shitware. Only an oligarchy like ~~Russia~~ US could produce absolute trash like that and still sell it because everyone has to play ball.

[–] zout@fedia.io 11 points 2 weeks ago

Biggest decline in my country is because lease companies don't like them in their fleet anymore; Musk has just randomly reduced prices in the past, making it difficult to estimate the remaining value at the end of the lease term. On the other hand business drivers used to have a generous tax exemption when driving an EV, which has been cut by our government. These drivers may now be better of driving an ICE. All in all this reduces the market share of Tesla drastically, since Tesla's are almost exclusively used as company lease cars.

[–] 800XL@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sure am glad all the car companies decided to use the Tesla charger as the standard. /s

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