Drivers in the country, Europe’s largest car market, are avoiding vehicles from Tesla, which has seen a drop in sales in other countries as well.

Musk, who was largely absent from Tesla during his time at the White House and running the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has recently resumed his executive duties at the automaker.

Tesla's sales volume in Germany fell by a third in May, the German road traffic agency KBA said on Wednesday, although sales of battery electric vehicles rose overall. KBA said Tesla sold 1,210 cars in Germany in May,