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Demonstrators rally against Tesla CEO Elon Musk during a 鈥楾esla Takedown鈥� protest outside a Tesla Store in San Francisco, California, on Saturday. | AFP photo

Tesla sales kept falling in March in many European markets as it suffered from a double blow of boycotts against the policies of its founder Elon Musk and an ageing model line-up.

Sales of Tesla鈥檚 electric cars in France fell 36.8 per cent in March from a year ago amid a slight drop in the overall electric car market, according to figures released Tuesday by the Automotive Platform (PFA), which represents the country鈥檚 manufacturers and suppliers.


In Sweden, Tesla sales declined 63.9 per cent in March and 55.2 per cent in the first three months of the year, according to Mobility Sweden.

The Tesla Model Y SUV, the country鈥檚 top-selling car in the first quarter of 2024, is now behind two Volvos, the luxury Volkswagen ID.7, and a Subaru.

In Denmark, Tesla sales fell 56 per cent in the first quarter, according to Mobility Denmark.

Germany, Britain and Italy will announce their March figures in the coming days.

Already in the first two months of the year, Tesla鈥檚 sales in the European Union were almost cut in half, with the company now holding just a 1.1 per cent market share.

At the same time, vandalism against charging stations and the brand鈥檚 dealerships has increased, while several protests were held on Saturday outside retail locations in North America and Europe to contest Musk鈥檚 close cooperation with US president Donald Trump.

Stephanie Valdez Streaty of Cox Automotive said that it was 鈥榰ndeniable that Elon Musk is an influential factor whose actions affect the brand鈥檚 image and sales鈥�.

Environmental group Mighty Earth summed up the buyers鈥� dilemma in a statement Tuesday: while Tesla鈥檚 electric cars are positive from an climate point of view, Musk鈥檚 actions as head of the government efficiency commission are 鈥榮abotaging climate action, kicking environmental cops off the job, and gutting the ability of the U.S. government to stop oil, coal, and meat companies from pouring pollution into the air and water鈥�.

Besides politics, Tesla鈥檚 model offerings are ageing and face a slew of new competitors from Europe and above all Asia.