US electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla saw sales plummet in Europe’s two biggest car markets in July, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Germany’s KBA.
New vehicle registrations fell by around 60 percent in the UK and by more than 55.1 percent in Germany, figures showed on Tuesday.
The company said it had sold just 987 units in the UK, down from around 2,462 a year earlier. In Germany, it sold 1,110.
Meanwhile, BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle giant, has seen strong growth in both markets. Sales in the UK rose 390 percent to 3,184 units, while BYD’s registrations in Germany rose almost fivefold to 1,126 in July.
Despite the overall growth in the EV market, sales of battery electric vehicles in Germany jumped 58 percent to 48,614 units, while the UK market grew by 9.1 percent.
Tesla has lost significant ground across the region.
The latest figures confirm a regional sales slump for Elon Musk’s company, which continues to be hampered by fierce competition, particularly from Chinese EV makers, as well as brand damage caused by Musk’s controversial statements and ties to US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The backlash could be felt more strongly in Europe, as evidenced by Tesla’s sharp decline in sales in the region in the first half of the year.
Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association revealed a 43.7 percent year-on-year decline in sales in the first six months of the year.
Tesla also lost market share in Europe for the sixth consecutive month in June.
