Tesla has suffered a significant blow in Germany, with new registrations plummeting by 60% in January 2025, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA). Just 1,227 Teslas were registered in the Central European country, a sharp decline from 3,029 in the same month the previous year.
The overall electric vehicle market in Germany saw a 53.5% rise in sales, apparently suggesting Tesla’s struggle is more than just a market trend.
Musk’s involvement in politics is increasingly tying the brand to his controversial persona. His video appearance at a far-right AfD conference in Germany, combined with his remarks dismissing Nazi guilt ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day, has sparked widespread backlash – overshadowing the company’s innovation, especially in a market as sensitive as Germany.
Tesla’s woes extend beyond Germany. Sales in Sweden dropped 44%, and Norway saw a 34% decline in January. In the Netherlands, a recent survey found that a third of Tesla owners plan to sell their vehicles, citing discomfort with Musk’s political ties.
In both France and Germany, Tesla’s sales were halved year-on-year. And protests are escalating—activists projected images of Musk’s controversial gestures at a Tesla factory near Berlin.
Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, an automotive analyst, put it bluntly: “Nobody wants to be associated with Musk’s behavior.” His growing ties with far-right politics and controversial statements are pushing European buyers away. In Germany, some Tesla owners are even placing stickers on their cars that read, “I bought this car before Elon went crazy,” reflecting the growing distance from the brand.
The upcoming German federal elections will likely keep Musk’s politics in the spotlight, but the real question is how much damage has already been done.
