---
title: "Europe Turns Away From Elon Musk as Tesla Sales Plunge 43%"
publisher: "Share Talk"
author: "sharetalk"
published: "2025-09-25T13:40:09+00:00"
modified: "2025-09-25T13:40:09+00:00"
date: 2025-09-25
canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/europe-turns-away-from-elon-musk-as-tesla-sales-plunge-43/"
category: "Automobiles, Parts & Engineering"
categories: ["Automobiles, Parts & Engineering", "Blogs", "Technology", "Technology, Media & Telecoms"]
tags: ["automaker", "BYD", "cars", "china", "COVID", "Cybertruck", "Donald Trump", "electric car", "Elon Musk", "EVs", "Huangpu River", "lockdown", "Model 3", "Model Y", "shanghai", "Tesla", "USA", "vehicles"]
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format: "news"
language: "en-GB"
---

# Europe Turns Away From Elon Musk as Tesla Sales Plunge 43%

**Published:** September 25, 2025
**Author:** sharetalk
**Categories:** Automobiles, Parts & Engineering, Blogs, Technology, Technology, Media & Telecoms
**Tags:** automaker, BYD, cars, china, COVID, Cybertruck, Donald Trump, electric car, Elon Musk, EVs, Huangpu River, lockdown, Model 3, Model Y, shanghai, Tesla, USA, vehicles
**Featured image:** ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Tesla-25-sep-25.webp?fit=1200%2C800&quality=80&ssl=1)

---

**Europe Turns Away From Elon Musk as Tesla Sales Plunge 43% While BYD Surges**

Europe appears to be turning its back on **Elon Musk** and **Tesla**, with new figures showing a sharp decline in sales of the U.S. electric carmaker’s vehicles.

According to data from the **European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA)**, sales of **new Tesla cars** across the **EU** fell **43% year-to-date**, dropping from **over 150,000 vehicles** sold between January and August 2024 to just **86,000** in the same period this year.

While Tesla’s sales have slumped, **Chinese rival BYD** has experienced explosive growth. Sales of BYD cars surged **244%** year-on-year, jumping from **just under 20,000 units** in the first eight months of 2024 to **almost 70,000** so far this year. BYD has now **overtaken Tesla for the second consecutive month**, highlighting a dramatic shift in consumer demand.

### **Impact of EU Tariffs on Chinese EVs**

The figures come a year after the **European Union imposed tariffs** on Chinese electric vehicles in a bid to **support domestic manufacturers** and prevent an overwhelming influx of cheaper imports.

On Thursday, **Sabine Weyand**, Director General of Trade at the **European Commission**, told the European Parliament’s international trade committee that the tariffs were **achieving their intended effect**.

> “200,000 cars were exported to the EU after measures, we cannot be accused of closing the market to China,” Weyand said, adding that European EV production had risen 19% while sales climbed 28% over the same period.

She emphasised that the tariffs were **not designed to block Chinese carmakers entirely**, but rather to **give EU manufacturers the breathing room they need to scale up production** and remain competitive.

### **Shifting Market Dynamics**

ACEA’s latest data highlights significant changes in Europe’s car market:

-
**Electric vehicles (EVs)** now account for **16%** of all EU car sales.

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**Hybrid vehicles** have seen particularly strong growth, now representing **37%** of the market.

The surge in hybrid sales is driving pressure on EU policymakers. **German automakers**, backed by Chancellor **Friedrich Merx**, are lobbying for **“flexibility” on the EU’s 2035 net-zero mandate**, which currently sets a deadline for ending sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles.

The manufacturers argue they should be **allowed to continue selling hybrid models beyond 2035**, reflecting ongoing consumer demand and the time needed for a full transition to electric-only production.

### **Tesla Faces Growing Competition**

Tesla’s sharp decline highlights its **growing challenges in Europe**, where competition from **Chinese manufacturers** and established European brands is intensifying.

With BYD rapidly expanding its footprint and EU producers increasing output under the protection of tariffs, Tesla faces mounting pressure to **regain market share** amid a fast-evolving and highly competitive landscape.

---

**Original URL:** https://www.share-talk.com/europe-turns-away-from-elon-musk-as-tesla-sales-plunge-43/
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