February 17, 2026
Stonks vs sales showdown
Tesla Sales Down 55% UK, 58% Spain, 59% Germany, 81% Netherlands, 93% Norway
Europe shrugs at Tesla; BYD buzz, politics backlash, robotaxi jokes
TLDR: Tesla’s January sales plunged across Europe, with huge drops in Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, while Italy oddly rose. Commenters split: some blame Musk’s politics and hype, others point to cheaper rivals like BYD and weak model variety, all wondering why TSLA stock still shrugs.
Europe just iced Tesla’s January vibe: sales cratered in the UK (–55%), Germany (–59%), the Netherlands (–81%), and Norway (–93%), with only Italy flexing a surprise +82%. Sweden and Portugal were mixed, but the overall mood in the CleanTechnica thread was pure popcorn. The loudest chorus? “BYD ate Tesla’s lunch.” One fan summed it up: cheaper cars, decent quality, and no drama. Another joker quipped, “Wait? Tesla still sells cars?” before riffing on Musk’s pivot to robotaxis and robots over, you know, making more car models people can buy.
Cue the brawl: Some blame Musk’s political antics for turning buyers off, others say it’s bigger—Chinese imports, more competition, and EV fatigue in parts of Europe. One thoughtful voice warned the timeline might be flipped: If the slump was coming anyway, Musk’s politics didn’t help—but they weren’t the whole story. Meanwhile, commenters roasted Tesla’s one-two punch of limited choices and no marketing—“Imagine Tesla with a ‘normal’ CEO,” one sighed—while the stonks vs sales meme took over. Despite the plunge, TSLA stock still floats high, prompting a side-eye: “Investors still expect a miracle?” Whatever the cause, the crowd agrees: the robotaxi hype isn’t helping buyers pick a car today, and Europe isn’t waiting around.
Key Points
- •The analysis extends earlier findings (12 markets down 23% YoY) to a two-year look across 13 European countries.
- •UK January 2026 sales fell 55% versus January 2024; Germany fell 59% versus 2024 and 69% versus 2023.
- •Netherlands and Norway saw steep declines: down 81% and 93% versus January 2024, respectively.
- •Italy was a notable outlier, with January 2026 sales up 82% versus January 2024.
- •Sweden and Portugal show mixed trends (Sweden: −32% vs 2024, +127% vs 2023; Portugal: −31% vs 2024, +64% vs 2023); Switzerland’s 2026 figure is missing.