According to February data, the American electric vehicle manufacturer is having trouble luring customers in the area as resentment over Elon Musk’s political actions grows.
In February, Tesla’s sales in Germany fell precipitously, as part of a broader European downturn that has weakened the company’s stock price and heightened resentment over Elon Musk’s political actions as CEO.
According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry, sales of Tesla vehicles experienced a 76 percent decline in February compared to the same month last year, marking the second consecutive month that the U.S. automaker has seen a decline in sales in Germany, Europe’s largest market for electric vehicles.
Since Mr. Musk became a de facto member of President Trump’s cabinet and increased the endorsement of far-right groups in Europe and elsewhere on X, his social media platform, demand for Teslas has also decreased in other European nations.
All of the gains achieved after Mr. Trump was elected president in November, when investors believed that Mr. Musk could use his power in the White House to help his companies, have been wiped as the price of Tesla’s shares has dropped more than 40% from its December peak.
Customers may have been turned off by Mr. Musk’s vigorous support of a far-right party in Germany prior to last month’s parliamentary elections and his appeal for people to put aside “a focus on past guilt.”
