Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) grip on the European electric vehicle market weakened sharply in April, as the U.S. automaker faces intensifying competition and mounting reputational challenges tied to CEO Elon Musk.

Tesla’s sales in the European Union slumped for a fourth consecutive month as Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle maker struggles to cash in on a growing EV market in the bloc where Chinese rivals are expanding.

Tesla’s grip on the European electric vehicle market weakened dramatically last month, with new figures showing a 49 per cent drop in sales across 32 European countries compared with April 2024 — a sharp contrast to the overall EV sector,