Tesla Europe sales plummeted by 52% in April — trade group

Europeans are buying fewer Teslas than before despite a growing demand for electric cars, according to a study published Tuesday, in keeping with a trend seen in recent months.

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association said that just 5,475 Tesla cars were sold in April, down 52.6% from the same month last year.

In the first four months of this year, Tesla sales were down 46.1% when compared with the first four months last year.

This means only 41,677 cars were sold over the course of the first four months of this year.

The study corresponds with data earlier this month that showed that Tesla sales in Germany and the UK fell to their lowest point in more than two years in April.

Europeans are buying Chinese models over Teslas for 1st time

Europeans are buying more Chinese cars, with Chinese manufacturer BYD having overtaken Tesla as the leading car choice for Europeans looking to buy pure electric cars in April.

According to data from JATO Dynamics automotive research firm, 7,231 pure electric BYD cars were registered in April, compared with 7,165 Teslas in that month.

Some experts have attributed a decline in Elon Musk's EV brand on the continent to a slow rollout of the latest version of the popular Model Y, while others have pointed to Musk's involvement in US President Donald Trump's administration.

In Germany, people are still buying electric cars made by Mercedes and Volkswagen, while BYD and other Chinese brands such as Nio and Xpeng remain more popular in Spain and Italy.