Tesla sales have continued their precipitous plunge in Germany and other European markets, the result of what is largely seen as a consumer backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s support of the far right AfD political party and his meddling in favour of other right wing causes.
According to data compiled by Reuters, Tesla car sales in Germany fell by 76% in February, where the actions of Musk have been felt the most, and has resulted in boycotts of the products by leading companies and local governments, and massive push back by consumers.
According to Germany’s road traffic agency, Tesla sold 1,429 cars in Germany, a decline of 76%, following a 60 per cent year on year drop in January. That is despite strong 31 per cent growth in the overall car market.
Musk defenders insist that the fall is only because of inventory issues and the pause in buying ahead of the release of the refreshed Model Y, but the consumer response is clearly visible. At least two companies have said they will dump their Tesla fleets and choose another brand, specifically because of Musk’s actions.
“Of course, as a Tesla driver you were always the fool: the Green party voter, the world saviour, the CO2 guy,” Patrik Schneider, who leased a Tesla in Germany, told German outlet Capital.de earlier this year. “But now you’re in a category that’s no longer funny. Now you’re suddenly in the corner with the right-wingers.”
Other countries have recorded similar falls. In Australia, Tesla sales dropped 66 per cent in February, compared to the same month a year earlier, although the overall market was also weak. Tesla’s share of the EV market, however, have dropped from over 50 per cent to 28 per cent.
Reuters reports that Tesla sales were down 24% in the Netherlands, 42% in Sweden, 48% in both Norway and Denmark, 45% in France, 55% in Italy, 10% in Spain and 53% in Portugal, according to official data.
The only country to report a boost was the UK, which reported a 21% jump in Tesla sales in February, although this was below a 42 per cent jump in EV sales, which now account for one in four new cars sold. China’s BYD and Chery were the big movers in that market.
Tesla shares on Thursday (US time), fell another 5.6 per cent, taking its stock to a close of $US263, its lowest since before Donald Trump’s US presidential victory, and below the peak of $US488 reached in December.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded the Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid web sites. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review, and owns a Tesla Model 3.