TESLA sales in Europe – including Britain – plummeted by 45 per cent in January as Elon Musk’s popularity continues to tumble.
The electric car boss has been sparking controversy since he was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Donald Trump.
He has been accused of throwing a Nazi salute during Trump’s inauguration, he has waded into the UK’s immigration debate and has openly mocked and sidelined the transgender community.
This stir has had a knock-on effect for his Tesla sales, with the slump spreading across Europe, according to a recent report by The Times.
They claim that sales across Europe dropped by 45 per cent overall in January, with similar individual stats in the likes of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Indeed, in Sweden, sales dropped 42 per cent in January and February, while registrations in Norway and Denmark fell by 48 per cent each.
The rejection of the luxury EV brand has seen rivals such as Volkswagen and Toyota step up a gear and boot Tesla out of the top spot.
The term “swasticar” has been sweeping social media across Europe.
Bumper stickers that read: “I bought his before Elon went crazy” have been plastered across Teslas by apologetic owners.
A Tesla dealership in the Netherlands was covered in swastika graffiti last month and the Polish tourism minister suggested a boycott after Musk said descendants of Nazis shouldn’t feel guilt.
In Germany, where Musk has shown support for right-wing Alternative for Germany party, Tesla sales were down by 59 per cent in January.
Activists projected a video of the Musk salute on a wall of a Tesla factory near Berlin.
While Tesla has been struggling, there has been an 18 percent boost in the sales of all electric vehicles.
This comes as Volkswagen has teamed up with an electric vehicle start-up company to rival Tesla.
The Volkswagen Group and American-based Rivian made the move to boost “body systems, the drivetrains, the infotainment” and “all electronics in the vehicle”, according to VW boss Thomas Schäfer.
They also hope to lower production costs and keep up with China’s EV market and competitors such as Tesla.
Porsche and Audi are reportedly set to be the first brands to use their tech.
Volkswagen’s new Scout Motors US brand is although thought to be in the preliminary roll out.
The German manufacturer said the partnership will create “best-in-class software technology for both companies’ future electric vehicles” thanks to “Rivian’s industry-leading software” and “Volkswagen Group’s significant global scale”.
VW has vowed to pour $5.8billion, £4.5billion, into Rivian by 2027 – the same year they expect to roll out their first models.
Speaking about the deal last year, VW Group CEO Oliver Blume said the partnership is “the next logical step”.
“With its implementation, we will strengthen our global competitive and technological position,” he said.
“We have a clear plan to offer our customers the best products and digital experiences at attractive prices through state-of-the-art development processes, innovative technological approaches, and a competitive cost base driven by synergies.”
During the original announcement in 2024, RJ Scaringe, founder and CEO of Rivian, added: “Today’s finalisation of our joint venture with Volkswagen Group marks an important step forward in helping transition the world to electric vehicles.
“We’re thrilled to see our technology being integrated in vehicles outside of Rivian, and we’re excited for the future.
“Rivian will continue to stay focused on creating best-in-class products and services that benefit our customers, helping to drive EV adoption.”
