In April, Tesla car sales in France experienced a significant decline of 59%, adding to the challenges faced by the electric vehicle manufacturer led by Elon Musk, who is also an advisor to US President Donald Trump. According to the French automotive organization PFA, which analyzed registration data from April compared to the same month last year, there were 7,556 Tesla registrations in France since the start of 2025, marking a 44% decrease from the same timeframe in 2024.
This drop in the EU’s third-largest car market follows a report from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) indicating a 45% decrease in Tesla sales across the European Union during the first quarter. Analysts suggest that Musk’s close association with Trump may be contributing to the decline in Tesla’s sales in Europe,
as Musk has gained notoriety for eliminating US federal agencies and programs, including those related to foreign aid, and for making gestures at a Trump inauguration rally that some historians have likened to a Nazi salute. Musk has announced his intention to reduce his involvement as the unofficial leader of Trump’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to concentrate more on Tesla. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Tesla’s board has initiated the process of finding a successor to Musk as CEO several weeks ago. The downturn in Tesla sales in France coincides with a broader trend of stagnating electric vehicle sales in the country, where overall car sales fell by 5.64%, resulting in a total of 139,000 registrations.
About The Author
