In Europe, Tesla Sales Are Rising Despite Views on Elon Musk

Europeans seem to have gotten over their antipathy toward Elon Musk.

A year ago, Tesla sales in Europe were in free fall after Mr. Musk, the automaker’s chief executive, appeared to turn off car buyers with his vocal support for right-wing politicians in Britain and Europe and his role as President Trump’s cost-cutting czar.

But in recent months Tesla’s sales across Europe have rebounded sharply amid a broader surge in electric vehicle sales, which now account for more than a fifth of new car purchases on the continent.

Tesla’s vehicle sales rose 77 percent from January through May compared with a year earlier, the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said this week. In May, Tesla sold 22,000 cars in Europe. That’s more than Ford, Nissan or Honda, even when including their fossil-fuel models.

Many people seem to have put aside their personal feelings about Mr. Musk after Tesla cut prices for its entry-level models to levels that are competitive with comparable gasoline or diesel vehicles and inexpensive cars from China. In some countries, Tesla’s Model Y sport utility vehicles can be leased for less than 300 euros, or about $340, a month.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/26/business/tesla-elon-musk-europe.html