Tesla registrations crash 17% in Europe as BEV market surges 14%

Concerns about Tesla’s long‑term EV commitment

• Several commenters worry Tesla is pivoting away from consumer EVs toward autonomy and robots, citing recent earnings-call remarks about ending Model S/X production and converting factory space to Optimus.
• Debate over whether taking EV subsidies and later exiting autos would be “fraud”: some argue there’s no legal duty to keep making cars or preserve resale value; others think deliberate abandonment after taking public support is ethically dubious.

Discontinuation, parts, and repair ecosystem

• Stopping S/X production sparks fears about future parts availability, especially given Tesla’s already patchy parts supply.
• Some note there’s no strong legal requirement to stock parts long-term; historically, traditional automakers and suppliers have done so because it’s profitable and supports brand value.
• Broader anxiety about EVs (including Chinese brands) becoming semi‑disposable due to locked‑down diagnostics, DRM’d parts, and weak independent repair ecosystems.

Optimus robot pivot and skepticism

• Many are deeply skeptical Optimus is real or commercially near-term: demos look tightly scripted and far behind Boston Dynamics–style robots.
• Some see value in large‑scale robot hardware plus learned behaviors (VLA models), but doubt the market size, price targets, and Tesla’s ability to deliver.
• Others frame Optimus as the next “infinite upside” story to justify Tesla’s valuation after EV and robotaxi hype have cooled.

Product stagnation and competition

• Multiple posters see Tesla coasting: few new models, incremental updates, delayed or canceled products, removal of features; rivals now offer richer interiors and comfort tech.
• Chinese and European EVs are praised for price, features, and variety; Tesla’s narrow lineup (3/Y plus Cybertruck) is viewed as a weakness, especially in Europe where Cybertruck isn’t viable.

Reliability, inspections, and ownership experience

• Danish inspection data cited: very high first‑inspection failure rates for Model 3/Y, with issues like brake disc corrosion and loose suspension arms.
• Users report heavy recalls, poor quality control, and long repair delays due to parts shortages; others counter that EV powertrains themselves are robust and depreciation is partly skewed by subsidies.

FSD, lidar, and value proposition

• Criticism of Tesla’s camera‑only autonomy strategy and removal of lifetime FSD subscriptions.
• Question whether many buyers will pay thousands or high monthly fees for advanced driver assist, even if it works well; anecdotal split between owners who “love” it and those who see it as overpriced.

Musk’s behavior and political fallout

• Significant anger over Musk’s politics, alleged Nazi salute, and perceived alignment with aid cuts (DOGE/USAID), with some blaming him for large humanitarian harms.
• Several European commenters explicitly link his behavior to Tesla’s brand collapse among EV‑friendly demographics; “swasticars” nickname and union conflicts in Nordic countries are mentioned.

Stock price, capitalism, and market structure

• Puzzlement that Tesla’s stock often rises on bad news; theories include index-fund flows, meme dynamics, and investors treating Tesla as a proxy for SpaceX.
• Side debate on whether this reflects “real” capitalism or a system where concentrated capital and political influence dominate market signals.

Broader EV and China context

• While Tesla’s European registrations fall, BEV sales overall rise; many see this as a story of Tesla losing share in a maturing, commoditizing market.
• Chinese EV makers (especially BYD) are viewed as existential price/scale threats; others note European incumbents still hold most market share, with Chinese brands growing but not yet dominant.
• Some argue protectionism is propping up US/EU auto against cheaper Chinese “appliance cars,” while ICE registrations dropping faster than EVs signals a structural shift away from combustion overall.