In a dramatic and symbolic move, a 98-year-old World War II veteran recently drove a Sherman tank over a Tesla Model 3, crushing its roof and windows but surprisingly leaving the car semi-intact. The stunt, both shocking and oddly appropriate, reflects the changing tides in the European EV market, where Tesla’s supremacy is now being flattened—figuratively—by increasing competition, particularly from Chinese automaker BYD.
BYD has for the first time outsold Tesla in Europe for two consecutive quarters. The Chinese EV maker reported a shocking 750% year-over-year sales growth in Germany, despite high EU tariffs. In the UK, BYD’s sales increased by over 300% in April, almost matching Tesla’s, indicating a seismic change in brand preference.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s sales are collapsing in major European markets. April figures show a 46% drop in Germany, 62% in the UK, 59% in France, and a shocking 80% fall in Sweden. Even Norway, which was once a stronghold for Tesla, has witnessed a decline in the brand’s market share from 18% to 11%. Tesla has blamed the slump on seasonality and factory retooling for the new Model Y, but the figures point to more serious problems.
While there has been a 28% increase in overall EV sales in Europe, Tesla is lagging behind, while legacy automakers such as Volkswagen and disruptors such as BYD are taking the lead. If trends continue, BYD can be the world’s largest electric car manufacturer by 2025.
The image of a WWII tank crushing a Model 3 isn’t a viral stunt; it’s a metaphor for the end of Tesla’s unchecked reign in Europe. The message is clear: A new era in electric mobility is coming, and it doesn’t have to be a Tesla badge.
