Tesla sales were down in every European country except for the UK in the first quarter, and there’s a reason why.
That’s while electric vehicle sales are still booming in Europe.
Tesla’s sales declined for the first time in Europe last year, but the decline accelerated in 2025.
Over the last three months, we have been reporting on worrying sales results for Tesla across most European markets, especially in important markets like France and Germany.
Now, we have the delivery numbers for Tesla in all European countries, and the automaker is down 37% on the old continent compared to 2024, which was already a down year for Tesla.
On top of it, Tesla is down in every single country except the UK.
Here are Tesla’s Q1 2025 deliveries in each European country compared to Q1 2024:
| Country | Q1 2024 | Q1 2025 | Change |
| Germany | 13,068 | 4,935 | -62.2% |
| UK | 11,768 | 12,474 | 6.0% |
| France | 11,360 | 6,696 | -41.1% |
| Belgium | 7,219 | 3,019 | -58.2% |
| Netherlands | 6,854 | 3,445 | -49.7% |
| Norway | 5,121 | 3,817 | -25.5% |
| Other | 4,420 | 3,301 | -25.3% |
| Sweden | 4,312 | 1,929 | -55.3% |
| Italy | 3,721 | 3,469 | -6.8% |
| Spain | 3,601 | 3,169 | -12.0% |
| Denmark | 3,558 | 1,549 | -56.5% |
| Switzerland | 3,264 | 1,238 | -62.1% |
| Portugal | 2,888 | 2,145 | -25.7% |
| Austria | 2,506 | 1,304 | -48.0% |
| Poland | 1,264 | 899 | -28.9% |
| Finland | 894 | 475 | -46.9% |
The drop in sales in Germany was the most devastating for Tesla. It went from being Tesla’s biggest European market to being a distant third.
France also saw a significant 41% decline in sales.
This is also happening while electric vehicle sales are surging, regardless of Tesla’s performance.
Tesla is feeling the pain virtually everywhere in Europe except in the UK, but that’s because Tesla is selling its vehicles for much cheaper there.
In the UK, the Model Y PCP leasing starts at £399, which is the equivalent of €462, when the same vehicle starts €570 in Germany:
Interestingly, that’s not the case for the Model 3, which starts higher in the UK than in Germany.
Electrek’s Take
The reason for that is unclear to me. I’d love to hear theories in the comment section.
I wouldn’t be surprised if those vehicles come from China instead of Berlin, considering the UK doesn’t have the same tariffs on Chinese EVs as the rest of Europe.
Could it be that Tesla planned to produce too many right-hand-drive vehicles and had to lower prices to ensure that it could deliver them?
Top comment by European Bob
In the UK most cars of the value of a Tesla are "bought" as company cars, which are often ordered by the employee months in advance.
In addition, the "luxury car tax" has been applied to EVs for the first time in the UK on 01 April 2025, which brought forward many orders for EV worth £40k or more.
Basically the UK EV market is being distorted at the moment, and in particular with Teslas, I imagine we won't see the true picture until July / August 2025.
It’s unclear, but I think the theory has some traction since I just learned that Tesla is also already discounting the new Model Y in Hong Kong – another right-hand-drive market.
Either way, I think it’s clear at this point that Tesla is having significant brand issues in Europe, in addition to increased competition.
Yes, Model Y had some supply issues due to the design changeover, but Model 3 sales are also down 11% compared to Q1 2024, when Tesla was still ramping up production of the Model 3 design refresh.
Tesla shareholders need to wake up. This is a self-inflicted wound that can be remedied by removing Elon Musk.
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