Tesla's sales in key European markets fell again in March, data showed on Tuesday, adding to signs that drivers are shunning Elon Musk's electric car brand as competition from China stiffens and some protest against his political views.

In Norway, the Model Y easily remains the country's best-selling new car, but in other key markets, like France, overall sales have tanked

Vehicle sales at China’s BYD soared 58 per cent in the first quarter in a stark contrast to an expected fall in demand for Tesla’s electric cars, as European consumers shun Elon Musk’s brand. The Shenzhen-based group on Tuesday said it delivered 986,098 passenger vehicles in the first quarter, of which 416,388 were pure EVs, up 39 per cent.

Mr. Musk’s involvement in right-wing politics contributed to a 13% drop in deliveries in the first quarter, including steep declines in E.V.-friendly places like Norway.

Shares of Tesla fell more than 2% on Wednesday as the company recorded a bigger-than-expected drop in sales in the January-March period.

The EV maker’s first-quarter deliveries fell 13 percent year-over-year as CEO Elon Musk led efforts to slash the federal government.

The news followed a quarter in which Tesla's stock fell 36%, its worst quarterly performance since 2022, as protests and boycotts in the U.S. and Europe drove potential EV buyers to look elsewhere.