Tesla Global News #23

Welcome to this week’s edition of Tesla Global News! We’re bringing you the latest updates on Tesla from the past week, spanning February 24 to March 3, 2025. This edition covers a significant sales downturn in Europe, escalating protests tied to Elon Musk’s political influence, and exciting progress in Tesla’s autonomous driving initiatives. Buckle up for a detailed dive into the world of Tesla! Checkout this weeks latest Tesla Global YouTube video here!

Tesla’s electric vehicle (EV) sales in Europe have hit a turbulent rough patch in early 2025, with January registrations plummeting a striking 45% year-over-year, dropping from 18,161 vehicles in 2024 to a mere 9,945, according to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). This steep decline stands in jarring contrast to a robust 37% surge in overall EV sales across the continent during the same period, underscoring Tesla’s struggle to maintain its once-dominant position. Competitors like China’s BYD, which saw a remarkable 62% sales increase fueled by its budget-friendly Seagull hatchback (priced under €20,000), and SAIC Motor, with its MG4 model gaining traction for its sleek design and extended range, have flooded the market with affordable, feature-rich alternatives that are siphoning buyers away from Tesla’s pricier offerings. The downturn was particularly pronounced in France, a cornerstone of Europe’s EV adoption, where Tesla’s February registrations slumped to just 2,395 vehicles—a 26% drop from the 3,238 recorded the previous year.

This marked Tesla’s weakest monthly performance in France since late 2022, a worrying signal in a market where government incentives and consumer enthusiasm have historically favored EVs. Analysts point to a confluence of factors behind this slide. Tesla’s aging lineup, including the popular Model Y, hasn’t seen a significant refresh since its 2021 update, with a much-anticipated Juniper redesign not slated to hit European showrooms until May 2025.

Delay has left Tesla vulnerable as rivals roll out next-generation models with cutting-edge battery tech and infotainment systems. Adding to the pressure, consumer sentiment appears to be shifting against Tesla due to CEO Elon Musk’s increasingly polarizing public persona. His vocal support for controversial political figures, notably Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, has sparked backlash across progressive European markets. Social media campaigns like #BoycottTesla have gained traction, with X posts citing Musk’s political stances as a reason to “shop elsewhere.” A February 2025 survey by YouGov found that 41% of German EV buyers now view Tesla less favorably due to Musk’s actions, a sentiment echoed in France and the UK.

This reputational hit has coincided with Tesla’s European market share slipping from 1.8% in January 2024 to just 1% in January 2025—a stark indicator of eroding dominance. The competitive landscape isn’t easing up either. European automakers like Volkswagen, with its ID.3 gaining ground, and BMW, accelerating production of its i4 sedan, are clawing back market share with locally tailored designs and aggressive pricing. Meanwhile, Tesla’s reliance on imports from its Shanghai Gigafactory has exposed it to logistical delays and rising tariffs amid EU-China trade tensions, further hampering its agility. With its European market footing shaken, Tesla faces mounting pressure to innovate—whether through a faster Model Y rollout, a budget-friendly compact EV teased for late 2025, or a strategic pivot to repair its brand image. As the EV race intensifies, the company must act swiftly to rebuild trust and reclaim its edge in this fiercely contested arena.

Global Demonstrations Target Tesla Showrooms

Elon Musk’s expanding political footprint, notably his role advising U.S. President Donald Trump on government efficiency, has sparked widespread unrest among Tesla’s customer base. On March 1, 2025, a “National Day of Tesla Protest” saw demonstrations at over 50 Tesla showrooms across the U.S., with nine arrests reported outside a New York City dealership. Protesters, decrying Musk’s influence in cutting federal jobs via the DOGE initiative, wielded signs reading “Unplug Mad King Musk” and “Don’t Buy Swasticars.” The movement, dubbed the “Tesla Takedown,” extended internationally, with rallies in Barcelona, London, and Berlin, where activists projected anti-Musk imagery onto Tesla’s Gigafactory last month. This backlash coincides with a 32% rise in U.S. consumers unwilling to buy Tesla vehicles, per Morning Consult, and a 60% rejection rate among UK buyers citing Musk’s polarizing reputation, per Electrifying. As Tesla’s stock dipped 8% on February 25, erasing gains from a Trump-led rally, the protests underscore a growing challenge: Musk’s persona may be alienating the very buyers Tesla needs to thrive.

Ride-Hailing Permits and FSD Expansion Fuel Optimism

Despite headwinds, Tesla is charging ahead with its autonomous driving vision. Last week, the company applied for a ride-hailing permit in California, initially deploying human-driven vehicles before transitioning to a robotaxi fleet powered by Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, according to California regulators. This follows a February 24 report that Tesla is preparing to roll out FSD features in China, enabling city-street navigation akin to its U.S. offering, though regulatory delays may push this beyond Q2 2025 amid U.S.-China trade tensions. Posts on X buzzed with speculation about a free self-driving taxi service launching in California and FSD debuting in China soon, though Tesla has not confirmed timelines. CEO Elon Musk has reiterated plans for unsupervised FSD as a paid service in Austin by June 2025, with testing already underway using Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. While Tesla’s stock has slid 32% from its November 2024 peak, analysts see autonomous tech as a potential game-changer, with Benchmark forecasting affordable models and FSD scale-up as key catalysts for 2025 recovery—just as rival BYD bolsters its own “Gods Eye” system.

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