Tesla’s sales in Germany fell by 59% in January. This is the lowest number of sales since July 2021.
Only 1,277 Tesla vehicles were registered, even though Germany’s electric vehicle (EV) market grew by 54%.
Tesla’s market share also dropped from 14% to 4%. This shows a large decrease in consumer interest.
Musk’s Political Views Linked to Sales Drop
Experts believe that Elon Musk’s support for far-right politics in Germany hurt sales. As Germany nears elections, Musk publicly supported the AfD, a far-right, anti-migrant party with pro-Moscow views.
Musk attended an AfD event and said, “Germany should be proud of its culture and not lose it to multiculturalism.” He also criticized Germany’s focus on past guilt. He said, “Children should not bear responsibility for past generations.”
Musk further fueled criticism by hosting AfD leader Alice Weidel on his platform, X.
Tesla Sales Decline in France and UK Too
Tesla’s sales fell in other countries as well. In France, sales dropped by 63%. In the UK, they fell by 12%.
Musk’s ties to Donald Trump and his new role as a “special government employee” in the US raised concerns. Some analysts believe that buyers delayed purchases, waiting for the new Model Y to launch in 2025.
Inventory shortages may have also affected sales, as Tesla focused on higher deliveries at the end of last year.
