--- title: "Elon’s Bizarre Behavior Is Killing Tesla’s Sales" description: "Tesla sales are falling off a cliff in key markets around the world — as its CEO Elon Musk continues working overtime to tank its reputation." date: "2025-02-05" modified: "2025-02-05" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-bizarre-behavior-killing-tesla-sales" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "elon musk" - "evs" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # Elon’s Bizarre Behavior Is Killing Tesla’s Sales ![Tesla sales are falling off a cliff in key markets around the world — as its CEO Elon Musk continues working overtime to tank its reputation.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## Tesla Tank Tesla sales are falling off a cliff in key markets around the world — as its CEO Elon Musk continues working overtime to tank not just his own reputation but that of his embattled carmaker. Sales in California fell almost eight percent in the fourth quarter of last year and are down 12 percent overall for the year, as [*Bloomberg* reports](). Annual registrations for the company's best-selling vehicle, the Model 3, slide by over a third in the state. (As a harbinger of the trouble, Tesla posted its [first yearly sales drop in over a decade]() last month.) Similarly, the EV maker's performance is [down in almost every single European market](), with year-over-year sales dropping over 63 percent in France — as Musk has threatened to upend the continent by [throwing his weight behind]() a political party linked to neo-Nazism in Germany. Even in Sweden and Norway, key markets for the company, Tesla is losing significant market share, as [*Reuters* reports]() — despite car sales overall soaring there. While it's unclear *exactly* how much Musk's [bizarre and polarizing behavior]() is contributing to Tesla's woes, surveys show it's definitely a factor, with consumers choosing alternatives rather [than driving]() a "giant red MAGA hat." ## Naz-EV A recent survey showed that the proportion of Swedes viewing Tesla in a positive light slid to an abysmal 11 following Trump's inauguration, according to *Reuters*. It's a significant change of heart, considering Tesla's Model Y was the [most-sold car in both Sweden and Norway]() last year. Another survey by brand reputation analytics firm Caliber, reviewed by *Bloomberg*, also showed that Tesla's reputation dipped to its lowest levels since at least 2023 in November and January. Meanwhile, EV alternatives including those by Honda and Hyundai are [starting to really eat into Tesla's market share](), with strong end-of-year sales. In short, it's not surprising to see consumers abandon Tesla's brand, which has been dragged through the mud by the troubling behavior of its CEO. Apart from Tesla's tanking reputation, investors have long warned that the [EV maker's lineup is starting to look stale](), despite the launch of a [divisive and extremely problems-prone pickup truck]() in late 2022. Musk has bet big on the [development of a "robotaxi]()," which given the [sorry state of the company's driver assistance software](), likely won't be ready for deliveries for quite some time. Overall, Tesla has now slid to the fourth most valuable car brand globally, according to a [recent Brand Finance report](), with Japanese carmaker Toyota claiming the number one spot. **More on Tesla:** *[Elon Musk Finally Admits That Teslas Don't Have What It Takes for Full Self-Driving]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()