The U.S. electric car company’s sales are sliding across Europe, amid what many see as interference in local affairs by Tesla’s chief executive, Elon Musk.

The magnate, who is the world's richest man, has seen sales of his firm's EV cars rapidly decline in January across multiple markets in Germany, France and Norway.

Sales of Tesla cars have nosedived across some of the EV manufacturer’s most valuable European markets—and experts are blaming Elon Musk. Sales in Germany, where Tesla has a factory, dropped a staggering 59 percent in January compared to the same month last year,

Popularity has plummeted in markets like Germany, a country still haunted by its fascist past, where Tesla's share of EV sales plummeted to just 3.7% last month versus 14% a year earlier.

In both Germany and France, sales of Tesla cars were halved year-on-year in January 2025. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Tesla sales plunged in Germany last month, official data showed Wednesday, after billionaire owner Elon Musk waded into the country's election campaign by vocally backing the far right.

However, recent surveys indicate the actions of Elon Musk may also be deterring EV buyers.

In many ways, these have been tough days for Tesla. Falling sales. Squeezed profit margins. Proposed changes in US government policy that could cost the company billions.

"Opinions on Elon Musk have taken a turn for the worse along political affiliations," Stifel analyst Stephen Gengaro said.