Tesla's January European Sales Keep Slumping: France Hits Three-Year Low, Norway Plunges 88%

Tesla's sales slump in Europe has extended into January 2025. Data shows that the company sold only 661 vehicles in France, a 42% year-over-year decline—the lowest figure in over three years. Even in Norway, which had been its sole bright spot last year, registrations plummeted by 88% year-over-year. Overall, Tesla is facing weak demand across most continental European markets, partly due to consumer backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s political stances and intense competition from local automakers like Volkswagen and Stellantis, as well as Chinese brands such as BYD. Notably, while total battery-electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in Europe rose by 30% year-over-year in January 2025, Tesla’s sales fell by 27% during the same period. Additionally, Norway’s policy changes—tightening VAT exemptions for electric vehicles—triggered a sharp industry-wide sales drop, severely impacting Tesla’s performance in the country.