Tesla, once the undisputed trailblazer of the electric vehicle boom, is facing a major setback in Europe. The brand's stronghold has weakened dramatically, with sales plummeting and consumers increasingly turning away—not because of the cars,

April's sales of vehicles from Elon Musk's company were down by 49 percent compared to the same time last year.

Tesla's European sales fell sharply last month, dropping 49%, based on data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.