Tesla sales in Ireland surge 31% despite European decline

Tesla’s Irish sales have surged 31% this year, driven by Model 3 demand, despite sharp declines across Europe

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has been repeatedly criticised across Europe for his numerous interventions in politics across both sides of the Atlantic. 

Elon Musk’s electric car company Tesla has seen its sales in Ireland increase by 31% so far this year as it experiences a massive sales decline in other European countries, new data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) shows.

According to SIMI, there was a 15% decline in total new car registrations during February to 14,012 compared to the same period last year, but there was a 36% increase in battery electric car registrations to 2,524.

After a difficult 2024, new electric car sales have somewhat rebounded, with 7,447 new cars registered during the first two months of the year — a 25.1% increase year-on-year.

The top-selling electric car so far this year has been the Volkswagen ID.4, followed by the KIA EV3, and the Tesla Model 3.

Mr Musk, who is the chief executive of Tesla, has been the subject of intense criticism in Europe for repeatedly intervening in politics on both sides of the Atlantic.

The billionaire is a close adviser to US president Donald Trump, and has become a vocal supporter of Germany’s far-right AfD party in recent months. 

Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association last week showed Tesla sold 9,945 vehicles in Europe in January, down 45% from last year’s 18,161.

In January, Tesla sold 1,277 new cars in Germany, its lowest monthly total since July 2021, while sales in France plummeted 63% in its worst performance in the country since August 2022.

The company also registered fewer vehicles in the UK than its Chinese electric car rival BYD for the first time.

However, in Ireland, Tesla sales have risen so far this year, with 540 new cars registered, but this is largely due to the popularity of the cheaper Model 3. Prices for the car start at just under €40,000.

Between January and February this year, 428 of these models were registered — a 70% increase from the same period last year.

The number of Tesla Model Y cars — prices for which starts at just under €45,000 — that have been sold during the first two months of the year stood at 112 - a 30% decline.

According to SIMI, new car registrations across the entire industry so far this year are down slightly by 0.8% to 47,483.

Petrol cars continue to lead the new car market with a share of 27.88%, followed by petrol-electric hybrid at 23.76%, diesel at 16.65%, fully electric at 15.68%, and plug-in electric hybrid at 14.3%.