According to the latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), American EV manufacturer Tesla sold only 5,475 vehicles in the EU region in April, marking a staggering 52.6% drop compared to the same month last year, the largest single-month decline in recent years.

Tesla's market share has drastically shrank, even being overtaken by Chinese brands. A report from UK market consultancy JATO Dynamics revealed that Tesla's sales ranking in Europe slipped to 11th place, surpassed by brands such as Volkswagen, BMW, Renault, and BYD. Notably, BYD has now become the new EV leader in Europe, surpassing Tesla for the first time.

Analysts suggest that Tesla's sales decline coincides with rumors surrounding CEO Elon Musk's collaboration with former U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as delays in the release of new models and production impacts from the Model Y facelift. In the first quarter of this year, Tesla's global sales dropped by 13%, and the cumulative sales in the European market from January to April reached only 41,677 units, down 46.1% year-on-year.

In contrast, Chinese brands are experiencing significant growth. JATO reported that in April, sales of Chinese-branded electric and hybrid vehicles increased by 59% year-on-year, with brands like BYD, SAIC Group (MG), Xpeng, and Leapmotor showing impressive performance. The market share of Chinese brands in the Western market reached 7.9%, significantly higher than the same period last year.

Overall, in April, the share of new electric vehicle sales in the European market reached 15.3%, up 26.4% year-on-year, with Škoda's Elroq being the top-selling model, while Tesla's Model Y fell to 9th place.