Is Tesla facing buyer rejection, headed towards a potential financial downturn?
Ditching the Coveted Tesla for French Wheels
Things ain't looking so hot for Tesla on French roads these days. Once known as the epitome of prestige and innovation, it's selling fewer than 1,000 cars in France—a far cry from its past glory. The Model Y, that used to rule the roost in the electric vehicle market, has dropped out of the top 10 sales. © Moose/Adobe Stock By Justine Pérou
urance Editor
Published on
Here's the deal: Tesla's fall from grace in France is real. In 2023, the American brand still ruled the roost in electric vehicle sales. Fast forward to 2025, and the picture's changed dramatically. While car sales dipped nationwide in April with only 138,697 new vehicles sold, Tesla fared much worse. According to reports from our partner NGC Data, its sales plummeted by an alarming 59% compared to the same month last year. Not a pretty sight: Tesla only managed to sell 863 electric cars in April, as opposed to 2,128 in April 2024. The past two years have seen a steady decline, with only 7,556 new Teslas sold since January, a whopping 44% drop from last year.
New cars: prices finally falling, and on certain models more than others... The Tesla Model Y pushed off the podium
This snub leaves room for French brands, such as the Renault 5, which sold nearly 11,500 units in the same period. The rankings of the best-selling new electric passenger cars in France in April show no Tesla models in the top 10, with the Model Y in 11th place (541 units, -62%), mere steps behind the Kia EV3 (551 units). Let's not forget that the American car took the lead in 2023 and 2024, but experts might brush off these disappointing results due to the debut of the new Model Y, which is currently only available in high-end versions. Oh, and April is the first month of a new quarter, with Tesla traditionally catching up by shipping a boatload of cargo before the quarter's end.
But Tesla is struggling with its reputation, tarnished by Elon Musk's political shenanigans and inflammatory statements that have created a cloud of mistrust in Europe. Local consumers are apparently steering clear of the brand. And if buyers are boycotting the brand, they might also be getting tired of the range, with experts highlighting the lack of new models, apart from its Cybertruck, which hasn't hit European shores yet. As a result, Tesla is losing ground to competitive French manufacturers ratcheting up their electric offerings against Chinese rivals like BYD, which sold 503 Seal sedans in France last month, just 38 units shy of the Model Y's 11th place finish. It's a close call.
Elon Musk on the Chopping Block at Tesla? The Board Waters the Replacement Tree
Tesla's not out of the woods yet. Despite skyrocketing to fame, Musk's brand is now facing stiff competition. Newcomers and traditional automakers are taking a bite out of the Model Y and Model 3's market share. In Europe, and particularly in France, American dominance ain't as easy to maintain anymore.
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Topic-wise, this article revolves around Tesla, Automotive market, Electric car, Renault, Car, Elon Musk, and Automotive industry
Enrichment Insights:- Political Ties and Controversies: Elon Musk's political ties and controversial statements have reportedly contributed to the decline in Tesla's popularity and sales in Europe.[1][4]- Competitive Pressure: Increased competition from newcomers and traditional automakers is chipping away at the market share of Tesla's Model Y and Model 3.[2][3]- Domestic Advantage: French brands like Renault might be benefiting from consumer loyalty and the advantage of being domestic brands compared to Tesla.[2][3]- Expanding European EV Market: Despite Tesla's struggles, the European electric vehicle market is growing overall.[2][3][4]
- Despite the debut of the new Model Y, no Tesla models appeared in the top 10 of the best-selling new electric passenger cars in France in April 2025.
- Tesla's sales plummeted by an alarming 59% compared to the same month last year in 2025, with only 863 electric cars sold in April.
- Conversely, Renault sold nearly 11,500 units in the same period, leaving room for French brands to gain, especially in a competitive European electric vehicle market.
- Elon Musk's political ties, controversial statements, and lack of new models, apart from the Cybertruck, have created a cloud of mistrust in Europe, causing local consumers to steer clear of the brand and favor more established French manufacturers.
