Tesla’s French Sales Take a Hit: April Sees 59% Plunge

Paris (AFP) – Tesla’s sales in France experienced a significant downturn in April, dropping by 59%, adding to the challenges faced by the Elon Musk-led electric vehicle manufacturer.

According to data from the French car body PFA, Tesla registrations in France since the start of 2025 totaled 7,556 units, a 44% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. This decline in France, the EU’s third-largest car market, follows a broader trend, with first-quarter figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) indicating a 45% drop in Tesla sales across the European Union.

Analysts suggest that Musk’s close association with former US President Donald Trump may be contributing to the lower sales figures in Europe.

The overall French car market also faced headwinds in April, with total sales declining by 5.64% to 139,000 registrations. Nicolas Le Bigot, head of the PFA, expressed concern over the market’s performance, attributing the downturn to “a situation of economic uncertainty” among French consumers and the broader impact of trade tensions stemming from US tariffs.

In April, Stellantis group registrations, which include Jeep, Peugeot, Fiat, and Maserati, fell by 12%. Renault sales saw a slight increase of two percent, while Volkswagen registrations decreased by 8.5 percent.