Decline in French License Plates for Tesla Vehicles by 60% in April, as Per Elon Musk's Company
Tesla's Falling Sales in France's Electric Vehicle Market: An Analysis
The sales of Tesla vehicles in France plunged dramatically in April, dropping by almost 60% compared to the same month last year. This dip occurred in a sluggish electric vehicle (EV) market, as the country's overall auto sales dropped by 5.64%.
Nicolas Le Bigot, interim general director of the Automobile Platform (PFA), shared his concerns about the current market situation saying, "We're dealing with a worryingly low level of the market compared to pre-Covid times." He further explained that economic uncertainties, triggered by global trade tensions and tariffs, have shaken consumer confidence and caused them to save rather than spend.
In the broader context, the French auto market contracted by 7.28% since the beginning of 2025. This economic downturn has impacted various car manufacturers, and Stellantis has been particularly affected, experiencing a 12% year-on-year decline. On the flip side, Renault is gaining momentum with a 2% growth rate, surpassing Stellantis with 39,000 vehicles sold in April. Volkswagen, the third-largest player, has struggled, with an 8.5% decline, due to its Seat brands.
Elon Musk's association with former U.S. President Donald Trump and controversial public behavior might be deterring European customers from purchasing Tesla vehicles [3]. In addition, Tesla's registration figures show a 44% decline since the start of 2025, with 7,556 vehicles sold.
There's an ongoing conversation about Tesla’s performance against its competitors. While Tesla’s registration numbers have fallen drastically, the EV market share in France remains relatively stable at around 18% [4]. In this overall slide, competitors have demonstrated resilience, and Renault has managed to outperform both Stellantis and Volkswagen in April.
The economic climate, political ties, competitive pressures, and product transition issues are all contributing to the sluggish sales of Tesla vehicles in France. Whether these challenges can be addressed remains to be seen, as Tesla navigates through this difficult phase.
References:
- https://www.auto-release.fr/actualites/automobile-en-france
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-19/tesla-s-slip-in-europe-s-electric-car-market-fectures-elon-musk
- https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/teslas-virginia-plant-begins-ramp-up-of-china-bound-model-y-deliveries-2021-11-11
- https://www.cleanfleetreport.com/france-ev-market-shrinks-but-percentage-of-bevs-increases/
- https://www.auto-release.fr/actualites/pfa-le-marche-francais-des-voitures-nouvelles-saluve-en-avril-2022
- The sluggish electric vehicle market in France, which contracted by 5.64% in April compared to the previous year, has adversely affected Tesla's sales, showing a 60% drop.
- The French automotive industry, including Tesla, has been impacted by economic uncertainties triggered by global trade tensions and tariffs, causing a decline in consumer confidence and spending.
- While Tesla's registration figures show a 44% decline since the start of 2025, the company's EV market share in France remains relatively stable at around 18%.
- Elon Musk's associations and controversial public behavior might be deterring European customers from purchasing Tesla vehicles, contributing to the falling sales.
- Tesla is facing challenges in the French market, such as economic climate, political ties, competitive pressures, and product transition issues, and it remains to be seen whether the company can address these challenges and navigate through this difficult phase.
