Tesla’s car sales dropped sharply in several European countries in April, amid rising competition from Chinese automakers and growing backlash against Elon Musk’s political views.

In Sweden, new Tesla registrations were down by 80.7% compared to April last year — the lowest level since October 2022, according to Mobility Sweden data. A day earlier, Denmark reported a 67.2% drop, while France recorded a 59.4% decline, marking its fourth consecutive month of falling sales.

In March, Tesla’s overall European sales fell by 28.2%, pressured by traditional carmakers and an influx of cheaper Chinese EVs entering the market.

Another factor impacting Tesla’s performance is the negative reaction to Musk’s political stance. Protests and acts of vandalism have been reported at Tesla showrooms and charging stations. On April 30, activists from the Neue Generation movement staged a demonstration in front of a Tesla store in Berlin with a cutout figure of Musk.

Car sales data for other countries such as Italy and Norway are expected later on Friday.