Tesla Rebounds in Parts of Europe, But Sales Remain Uneven

Tesla’s European comeback was real in April, but it was far from broad-based. New registrations more than doubled in Sweden, France and Denmark, and also rose in the Netherlands, while falling sharply in Norway, Portugal, Italy and Spain, showing a market that is recovering in pockets rather than across the continent.

Spain offered the starkest warning sign. Tesla’s new car sales there fell 47.3% from a year earlier in April to 301 vehicles, according to ANFAC, a reminder that the brand’s problems are still severe in some of Europe’s biggest car markets. The split matters because Tesla is trying to rebuild momentum after two consecutive annual declines in Europe, and April’s numbers suggest that the rebound is being driven as much by local conditions as by any continent-wide turn in demand.

Part of the lift came from an easier comparison base, but Tesla has also benefited from renewed interest in battery-electric vehicles after a surge in petrol prices tied to the Iran war. That shift has helped revive demand for EVs across the region, yet the gains have not translated evenly into Tesla sales. The company lost almost half of its European market share in 2025, pressured by growing competition, a lack of new models and backlash over Elon Musk’s political views.

The broader market is still moving toward electrification. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said battery-electric vehicles accounted for 17.4% of the EU market in 2025, and that share climbed to 19.4% in the first quarter of 2026. Even so, hybrids remained the most popular powertrain choice among EU buyers in that period, showing that the shift away from combustion engines is continuing, but on a path that still leaves room for mixed demand, pricing sensitivity and brand competition.

That is the context behind Tesla’s uneven April. Competition from BYD and other rivals has intensified, while Musk’s political interventions, including support for Germany’s far-right AfD and other right-wing causes, have alienated some European buyers. At the same time, Tesla deliveries can swing with shipping schedules and production timing, so one month of stronger registrations does not yet prove a durable turn. For now, April shows a company catching traction in some markets while still struggling to convince others that its European recovery is real.