Sales of Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) electric vehicles made in China fell last month, while rivals saw big increases in sales, mirroring trends seen around the world after CEO Elon Musk increased his work for the US Trump administration.
The US automaker’s sales of locally built EVs fell 6% year-on-year in April, extending a losing streak to seven months, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), covering sales in China and exports to overseas markets, including Europe.
Tesla delivered 58,459 Model 3 and Model Y units in April, down 25.8% from March.
It’s not just China where the shine is wearing off. Tesla's UK new car sales in April fell 62% year-on-year despite a rising overall EV market.
For the first four months of 2025, sales in Europe were down 17%, while the overall EV market saw sales increase 54%.
Tesla’s brand image has taken a hit, with many consumers turning away due to Musk’s controversial political endorsements.
China rival BYD, meanwhile, saw global passenger vehicle sales jump 19.4% in April to 372,615 units.