Early car sales data for January is starting to arrive from countries across the pond, and they paint an alarming picture for Tesla. Sales are crashing in France, Germany, and the UK—all affluent countries that are key markets for Tesla’s electric vehicles. Coming on the heels of a large financial miss, it’s just one more problem for the automaker.
Tesla sales dropped around 13 percent across Europe in 2024, but so far this year, the scale of the problem is far greater. In France, sales of new Teslas fell by 63 percent, while total car sales in the country fell by just 6 percent, with EV sales dropping just half a percent.
Germany was already looking like lost ground for Tesla—its 41 percent drop in 2024 accounted for most of Tesla’s lost sales across Europe. That must make the 59 percent drop in German Tesla sales recorded during January even more painful on the profit and loss statements.
Across the Channel, the British auto industry just released its sales data for January. Here, Tesla sales fell less precipitously—just 12 percent. However, battery EV sales were 35 percent higher in the UK in January 2025 than in January 2024. The cake is growing, but Tesla is getting to eat less and less of it.
In fact, no Tesla cracked the UK’s top 10 best-seller list last month, something that has regularly happened in the past, although that may be due to having just two models for >sale in most markets.
Large declines have also been recorded in Sweden (44 percent), Norway (38 percent), and the Netherlands (42 percent).
No one wants to drive a swasticar.
Europeans don’t want to drive a Swasticar? Why? Did something happen to make them dislike Nazis for some reason?
Looks at my VW
*Erika intensifies*
At least the current vw CEO isn’t openly a Nazi and they make good cars; unlike muskrat and his swasticars.
I wouldn’t fuck with VW after their “eco-diesel” bullshit from a decade or two ago. But I would probably still prefer them to Tesla if they were the only two car companies.
Quick Elon, sue every EU citizen for not buying your car!
As usual, in the end the workers will pay and the owner(s) will walk away slightly less incredibly wealthy.
Gimme cheap, simple and reliable EV with guaranteed 200km range and I’m sold. I don’t need bazillion of cameras inside and out, I don’t need glass roof, I don’t need 200kW of ridiculous power I would never use, I don’t need always online maps for a subscription fee and I don’t need 20" infotainment, neither I need 3 zone AC with ventilated seats and ballsack massage device, etc. I just want a Dacia of EV market.
Microlino, Fiat panda grande, Renault 5, Citroën Ami and others. The smaller and more affordable versions are getting there.
Any of those in the US market?
I’ve only seen Rivians and Teslas in my parts.
You’ve probably seen a lot more electric vehicles than you realize. Almost every big manufacturer has them in their lineups at this point, just most of them are looking more and more conventional.
Take a look at the Honda Prologue, the Toyota BZ4X, the Kia Niro EV6 or EV9, VW ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq line and Kona, Ford Mach E, Chevy Equinox EV or Blazer EV.
There’s also EV versions the F150, Chevy Silverado, and Hummer. Supposedly RAM will have an EV truck soon, too.
Granted there are fewer compact sizes than in European markets, but that’s true of all vehicles, regardless of powertrain
There’s a lot more, but they don’t stand out. Look at cars that don’t have a radiator and if course a tailpipe.
Chevy Bolt, except it was discontinued so now nothing…
Not a single one of them is available where I live. And once I checked them, they’re not really family cars I was hoping for.
There’s a little blue Honda EV I see at work. Looks smart as.
So Dacia Spring?
Good news everyone!
Oh no!
If I was alone, this would be an option. With family, not so much. I’ve heard horrible stories, struggling to go uphill with 4 people on board, etc. And I live in a hilly area.
Coincidentlaly, throwing all this junk out makes EV’s significantly lighter. And theoretically cheaper.
They kinda suffer from “the tyranny of the rocket equation” since so much of their mass is “fuel.” Make it lighter, and they need less battery for the same range, which means you need even less battery to carry that battery around, lighter motors, less chassis and suspension weight for that, which removes even more battery, and so on.
This is not the case with combustion cars, where much of the engine’s mass is fixed and gasoline takes up little weight.
The Aptera coming out follows this principle. It’s the only EV that’s light enough that the onboard solar panels contribute a significant boost in range.
Do you know where it’s at? It was supposed to come to US by 2022, and I’m wondering about Europe…
It’s was getting shown off at CES. Plenty of videos on youtube.
Europe would be a different beast regardless. It’s expensive to pay for safety testing in one place and those aren’t transferable. If you want one in Europe, you might be able to as a private importer maybe? There was one guy who tried that with a Cybertruck and got in trouble. I’m not a lawyer.
That’s what I was wondering, thank you! I’m not confident that it will come to Europe and I unfortunately cannot afford to buy a car that won’t be commonly supported by garages!
Fully solid-state batteries are just around the corner - some Chinese models already have a semi-solid-state battery, MG are releasing one this year, companies like Toyota and Honda are working on it too. The current use case is to extend range (600+ miles / 1000+ kms) but they could also be used to get similar range as today’s cars with a much lighter battery.
Solid state is just around the corner in the same way fusion is. Toyota announced in 2010 they’d have it in prod by 2015, then 2018, then 2020, then 2025 then…"real soon now™ "
The MG “may be a semi solid state”
https://electrek.co/2024/12/16/new-semi-solid-state-battery-ev-launching-2025/
Which is not quite the same thing.
BYD and CATL who have a good track record of delivery are suggesting 2030
TL;DR
Don’t wait for solid state, the current battery tech is more than adequate for the majority of people. Holding off for something “perfect” that may never arrive when “good enough” is here diesn’t seem logical to me
There’s already cars available today with semi solid state batteries: Some by Nio and one by IM.
The article I read about the MG was certain that it’d be solid state. Sorry for the incorrect info.
Don’t wait for solid state, the current battery tech is more than adequate for the majority of people
That’s true. The advancement in technology is why I’m leasing my EV (BMW iX) rather than buying it, though.
The fiat 500 e fits all that and it’s a delight to drive.
It’s a cool car, yes. Too small for me, but cool as fuck. Used ones are affordable, but it’s still 34k € new, which is not cheap at all.
Fair enough on the price. We got a used 2021 for a lot less than that and it’s the perfect car for us. It’s surprisingly spacious inside. This is coming from a 195cm overweight guy.
Do you drive it with family?
We’re only two so I understand we’re in a special situation. Kids would fit fine in the back, but with teenagers and adults it gets a bit tight.
Also, for some perspective, my normal driving position, the seat is somewhere in the middle of the movement range. Not all the way to the back.
Ballsack massage device you say…
I had the option but it drove me nuts
VW E-Up is cheap and really good
Dacia Spring. You’re welcome.
Well, I mean a car where I can fit with my wife, two kids, bag of groceries and still drive uphill…
I do that kind of trips with Spring. No problem. It has surprisingly big trunk for groceries and whatnot. If kids are above 3yo it’s all good.
Obviously it’s not a highway monster but for every day trips we usually take this one.
Just wondering, what qualifies as cheap for you?
It depends… As our old Ford gave up, I bought used car at the end of 2023. It is Kia Ceed SW, was three and a half years old when I bought it and I paid roughly 14k € for it, which is about my ceiling for a car. Not that I couldn’t pay more, but I don’t want to as our family doesn’t drive that much. Our last car did about 5-10k km a year and this one is no different.
When I was checking BEV at the time there was nothing usable at my price range and area. Couple of used E-Ups, which are too small honestly (that’s why we bought SW, trunk is always full of something). Same goes for BMW i3, which is also so hideous my wife said it would be a divorce. Not many E-Golfs, most of them totally abused, and way older than I’d like. Few Renault Zoes, but that’s a brand I wouldn’t trust with my past experience… There was simply nothing that would make sense. Not sure how it changed during 2024, but my hopes are low.
Well for obvious reasons. But also bcs their product is crap quality. My neighbour keeps on pouring grand after grand for stupid repairs into his model S
That can’t be, teslas never break and don’t need maintenance. Many people said it, smart people
Nearest repair center is 2 hours away
This sparks joy.
Or sparks fire, considering it’s Tesla
Elon Musk should have his wealth forcefully redistributed
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Its investment in the Cybertruck is of no help in the region, as the steel-clad pickup truck is too large and heavy for use with a normal driver’s license and does not conform to road legality regulations.
I was not aware of this. Further reasons to laugh at Musk are always welcome!
Anyone driving anything close to a pickup here is a knob. Ford Rangers or Raptors are for men whos wives dress them.
Hilux was acceptable but they are in the same boat now, you all look ridiculous.
I’m a sole trader, Stone Mason, I make enough to buy a used vehicle, but not new. Know what I would love? A light duty truck, no crew cab road princess bullshit, two seats in front, maybe a single half door passenger side for putting stuff behind the seats, and a properly sized bed. There’s no such thing on the used market. There’s absolutely uses for small trucks for trades folk. Back in Canada I had an older Ford Ranger, from when they were a rebadged Mitsubishi B3200. I would step over my dying gran for something like that here in the UK. The new Rangers are a fucking joke, FWD, crew cab standard, and they’re the size of the old F-150s, completely unusable in the UK. I’m thinking about maybe importing a Japanese Kei Truck. There’s some larger ones that are smaller than an old Ranger, but big enough for what I need…and they look cool AF.
@Sturgist @Squizzy #Suzuki #MightyBoy has entered the chat https://www.teammightyboy.com/suzuki-mightyboy-history.html
A family member’s a brickie. He ran an LDV Pilot for few years, until it died, and it was useful (piece of shit, but pretty reliable, and cheap to fix when it did break) while it lasted. But newer trucks and small vans aren’t nearly as suitable.
The Pilot was ugly as fuck, but from what I’ve heard they were basically indestructible to a certain point…then there was almost no reviving them. Been considering getting a decommissioned ambulance and changing my trading name to Dr. Stone…
Ambulance is basically set up for a mobile shop, 240 and 110, loads of drawers and cupboards, tie-down points and either a fold down ramp or a hydraulic tailgate. Ambulance services are always refreshing their fleet, they get worked hard, but there’s a maintenance standard so even with 180k miles on the Odo they’re typically not running poorly. Idk…maybe I’m talking myself into it, maybe it’s actually a good idea.
I used to have a proton jumbuck, really useful little pickup. But they’re hard to find in the UK and getting parts can be tricky.
Yeah, easy access to parts is pretty important.
…I had to look it up, it looks like one of the guys who worked on the design of the El Camino smooth talked someone in C-Suite that it was their own idea that releasing one that was modernised would sell super well. That might sound like I’m taking potshots, but I love the El Camino and I would buy a Jumbuck in a heartbeat.
Yeah, el Caminos look proper cool. TBH I thought my jumbuck looked pretty cool too. And it was really useful, at the time I was hauling a lot of wood and it drove just fine with a heavy load. I think it was maybe a 1.2 petrol engine iirc. They are pretty cheap if you can find them, I sold mine with 6 months MOT for about £500 . But yeah, parts are tricky, which isn’t great with a work vehicle
I had a Mazda Pricidia (MX-3) for a few years before I bought the Ranger. Thing was great. I had the rear seat pulled out and got a joiner pal build a custom wooden bed to put in. Did double duty, was enough to hold a week’s worth of veneer stone and thinset plus my tools. Built-in storage boxes under the top. And with the front seats folded all the way forward there was an extra piece I could drop in, and all of a sudden you’ve got enough space for a double size inflatable camping mattress. I miss that thing.
Yeah that sounds like a pretty decent solution. I know someone who did something similar to a Volvo estate. Bit crazy though that we’ve got to modify old vehicles to get a suitable work motor - seems like a gap in the market. VW made some sensible size pickups back in the 80s - but like the jumbuck they are old now. I hate to say it, but you might do better with a transit or sprinter. It’s enclosed space but you’ve got room for tools n stuff.
Pickups have their uses in Europe as well. Where I live, it seems like most pest controllers (rat catchers, an easy to clean open trunk is probably very nice) and land surveyors prefer them over other vehicles. They all use smaller sensible size pickups from Japanese brands though.
I think I’ve spotted only 2 different modern USA oversized pickups in traffic. Both full black, never a speck of dirt on them, always tailgating someone. They are vastly outnumbered by the sensible pickups, but you just can’t miss spotting them in traffic.
They have there place, but they are in the same boat as vans etc. They are commercial vehicles, to do a job, not city runabouts to stroke egos.
Yeah, get a van. The only people on site with these are lads with more money than work, mammy and daddy funded, or the developer who wouldnt see concrete dust land on it.
A van can’t deal with even remotely muddy grass. I lost count of how many vans I rescued, back when I had my pickup. They are also a lot less effective at dragging a horse trailer etc. Vans also (generally) don’t have back seats. If you’re also having to trek up and down the motorways, then the comfort of the ranger makes a big difference.
Our plant hire is delivered by a 20 year old mondeo. Van have more room for the work stuff and are plenty comfortable for motorway travel. Our off road vehicles are outlanders and vans are everything from mercedes to renault. Never had a problem that a pick up would have resolved.
Pretty much true in the US too - especially a Raptor.
Let’s see how big of a mouth you run when i pull up in my ranger plastered with punisher skulls you beta 😎😎 jkdon’tbullymepls
I used to have a proton jumbuck, it was a really handy pickup and the same size as a regular car. But it’s hard to find parts for em in the UK. It’s a shame there aren’t many sensibly-sized pickups.
But yeah, I kind of think most people who have massive ones that only get used for school run and supermarket are knobs.
Mate my wife dresses me but categorising me with them POS trucks is just too far.
Yeah man I didnt mean to do that, mine dresses me too…or rather she would do a better job of it anyway
The only acceptable vehicle is a range rover, and even then it has to have mud on it.
This metal blob goes against so many safety regulations in Europe, it is basically unfixable. And even then you would need a truckers licence to drive it, like the ones for big commercial trucks.
Yeah technically it’s a HGV, and you need an HGV license in order to be able to drive it.
Although apparently the other problem is that it has red indicators, because in the US they don’t have separate lights for brakes and indicators they just flash the brake light.
Most cars have yellow lights for indicators and red for brakes. Even for the US having red indicators is at least uncommon.
No it’s not. I see red turning indicators waaay more often than yellow ones.
You live somewhere with a lot of trucks? Most cars and suvs have separate ones, i don’t remember the last time I saw a red indicator other than on a semi. I see a lot of people not bother to indicate but the yellow or orange is there.
Montreal but also lived in Toronto for four years. It’s red blinkers everywhere, annoying as heck.
Not that many trucks, I guess. Are we talking about trucks only? I might be wrong then. Mostly crossover SUVs.
Can’t wait to hear soldiers killing people in Ramstein driving these.
I’m not going to sell a perfectly useable Model Y after a year just because the CEO is a cunt. But I’m going to tell everyone that he’s a cunt with 30 stickers plastered all over the useless rear window
Sell it to who, Ben? Fucking Aquaman?
Good choice, no point throwing it away if it was too late for you to realize, but it’s more powerful as a platform to disavow Musk and Tesla.
The US is collapsing and all I got was this lousy car
Fair point. I won’t judge Tesla drivers. I’ll judge Tesla drivers that don’t have a load of stickers on their car.
I’d judge Tesla drivers if they bought the car this year.
lol. Stupidly I didn’t consider that anyone would still buy one. New or secondhand.
Yeah, I mean who is their market now? Anyone who isn’t a nazi or ignorant isn’t going to want to be seen driving one. And I get the impression that right wing folks are more into fossil fuels.
I get the impression that right wing folks are more into fossil fuels.
Yup. I’d say they’re intentionally stupid.
I remember headlines of people burning their Nikes when they learned the company was woke or something. Burn your car mate, that’ll show them for sure!
To be fair, he has been a cunt for way longer than a year.
Elon gonna start sueing the EU for not buying his cars
Well, I did Nazi that coming
Turns out that siding against voters interested in human sustainability, and pro oil extortionist conservatives bent on climate and human destruction is not a good EV marketing strategy. I have an MBA… AMA
Also doing a nazi salute in front of thousands of people with full blown media coverage.
WWII might be a distant memory for Americans, but most of Europeans have been to historical sites of Jewish genocide.
I’m still friends with my ex, who’s American (as I am), but it’s far from a distant memory for her. 90% of her extended family on her mother’s side died in Auschwitz. Nearly as many on her father’s side were murdered too,
Unfortunately, for most Americans, WW2 is more of a call of duty plot.
WW2 is more of a call of duty plot
It’s the war Tom Hanks won.
Doing a nazi salute while making the Mussolini face, no less!
I know it’s not cool to take the piss out of someone’s appearance - but the fucker really does look like some of his ancestors were potatoes.
ADL supporting Musk’s salute, made US media/Zionist CNBC anyway ignore it. Germany doing the projection stunt on Tesla factory had more EU coverage. Social media, even reddit, is just starting to censor Musk anger now. Though, old people who casually think what mainstream media tells them, would go “media told us that ADL said he never did it, and they would never profit from anti semitism”
Sure am glad all the car companies decided to use the Tesla charger as the standard. /s
It’s an open standard now, it doesn’t really matter that Tesla was the first. So it’s a good thing, kind of like iPhones switching to “Android charging cables”.
