Tesla’s German Car Sales Nearly Halved In April

Tesla’s stranglehold on the German electric vehicle (EV) market is weakening as the company experienced a steep decline in sales last month. According to data from the German road traffic agency KBA on Tuesday, Tesla sold only 885 vehicles in Germany in April 2025, which is a sharp drop of 45.9% from the same month last year.

The decline is even steeper if one considers the wider time frame. Between January and April 2025, Tesla sold only 5,820 vehicles in Germany, a staggering 60.4% drop year-on-year. This dramatic drop occurs at a point when the total market for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Germany is growing. KBA reported a 53.5% increase in new electric vehicle registrations in April alone, which means that Tesla’s troubles are not a reflection of the overall EV demand.

The decline in Tesla sales is a reflection of a Europe-wide trend. The company has experienced four months of declining deliveries in the continent, partly due to the higher consumer preference for cheaper Chinese EVs. Also, some customers seem to be distancing themselves from Tesla because of the increasing disapproval of the political views of CEO Elon Musk that have sparked public debate.

Meanwhile, the Chinese EV producer BYD is quickly catching up. KBA data indicates that BYD’s sales increased over eightfold in April to 1,566 units and almost fivefold over the first four months of the year to 2,791 units.

Tesla is now under increasing pressure to re-engineer its strategy in Europe with the competition heating up and the image of the brand changing. With the increasing EV market, the issue is not demand but rather staying relevant and trustworthy to European consumers.