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Today — 3 April 2025Main stream

Tesla Sales Plunge Across Europe Despite Model Y Juniper Launch

  • Major declines in sales were reported in France, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland.
  • However, Tesla sales have rebounded in countries like Norway, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.
  • The EV leader is facing increased competition from Chinese brands in Europe.

Tesla will release its first-quarter sales figures later today, but before that happens, we already have some key sales data from several countries across Europe. It does not paint a pretty picture for the electric automaker that’s been struggling since Elon Musk became President Donald Trump’s right-hand man in the Oval Office.

According to the latest data, Tesla sold 3,157 new vehicles in France this March, a sharp 36.83% drop compared to the same time last year. It’s even worse in Sweden, where sales plummeted by 63.9% to just 911 units. Denmark saw a 65.5% decline (down to 595 cars), while the Netherlands reported a 61% drop, with 1,536 Teslas sold.

Read: Even Toyota Sold More EVs Than Tesla In Norway As Musk’s Brand Tanks 45%

These figures are important because the all-new Model Y has been available in most European markets since February 21, but it doesn’t appear to have reversed Tesla’s fortunes, at least not yet. Sales may start to climb once the public becomes more familiar with the new Model Y and get the opportunity to see it in the flesh.

Tesla is doing a little better in Norway. While the 2,211 models sold locally in March was down 1% from March last year, it was up significantly from January and February, when 1,606 Teslas found new homes. The Model Y was easily Norway’s best-selling new car in March, shifting 1,822 units, compared to the Nissan Ariya in second with 569 units sold.

 Tesla Sales Plunge Across Europe Despite Model Y Juniper Launch

Similarly, Tesla’s fortunes are also changing for the better in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, with sales climbing by 34.3%, 2.1%, and 51.3%, respectively, as reported by Reuters. Despite these gains, weak figures from January and February still mean quarterly sales are down in all three markets from Q1 2024.

Of course, it’s not just Musk’s involvement in US and European politics that has diminished the sentiment in the brand among some shoppers. In Europe, a growing number of Chinese car manufacturers are entering the market with competitively priced vehicles, despite tariffs placed against them.

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Before yesterdayMain stream

17 Teslas Torched In Rome In What May Be Largest Attack In Europe Yet

  • A new fire in Rome is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Tesla around the world.
  • High temperatures from the blaze damaged 17 EVs, and the surrounding structure.
  • No injuries were reported, and local authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire.

A suspicious fire that tore through a Tesla dealership in Rome early Monday morning has left behind a scorched mess of metal and plenty of questions. At least 17 fully electric vehicles were destroyed in the blaze, marking the latest in a string of troubling incidents involving Tesla facilities around the globe.

The incident arrives amid growing backlash against Elon Musk, raising suspicions that this wasn’t just some random electrical mishap. While the exact cause remains under investigation, authorities have not ruled out arson. Fortunately, no one was injured, as the dealership was closed at the time of the fire. Still, the loss is significant, not just in property, but in what it might signal.

More: Man Tries To Torch Tesla Superchargers But Ends Up Torching Himself

According to local media, emergency services were alerted around 4 a.m. on Monday, March 31. Police have since questioned the dealership’s owners and are combing through CCTV footage, Reuters reports.

The fire broke out at the Tesla store located at 48 Via Serracapriola in Rome. Drone footage shared by the YouTube channel Local Team shows the parking lot littered with charred vehicle shells. At least 16 Teslas appear to have suffered irreparable damage.

These cars were reportedly prepped and ready for delivery to customers. Furthermore, the shed covering them was also damaged by the intense heat, though the Tesla dealership’s main building seems to have escaped the worst of it.

A Brand Under Fire—Literally

The timing is hard to ignore. Just two days before the fire, the so-called “Tesla Takedown” movement organized protests outside more than 200 Tesla dealerships across Europe and North America. Most gatherings remained peaceful, but a handful of them escalated into vandalism—and now, possibly worse.

Earlier this month, suspicious fires destroyed multiple Tesla EVs across the USA, as well as in Italy, Germany, and France. In Ontario, Canada, more than 80 vehicles were vandalized at a single Tesla dealership—another flashpoint in what’s quickly becoming a global anti-Musk movement. If there’s no connection between these incidents, it would be one hell of a coincidence.

#Vigilidelfuoco di #Savona in azione stanotte per l'#incendio di 17 automobili nel deposito vetture del porto cittadino. Utilizzata dalle squadre schiuma antincendio per abbattere le fiamme#30marzo pic.twitter.com/KJgVbvL8vw

— Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) March 30, 2025

Lead image Google Maps

Ferrari Sees Huge Surge In Young Buyers As It Gears Up For EVs

  • Ferrari is attracting more first-time younger buyers, according to the company’s CEO.
  • The company will continue to tightly control production, with 2+ year waiting times.
  • It will cater to those looking to buy an EV with an all-new electric model, launching soon.

Ferrari may have fans from all age groups, but its core customers have traditionally been the preserve of those approaching a later stage in life—a stage often associated with crises. However, according to information from Maranello, the brand has started to attract a much younger clientele, with 40 percent of new buyers now being under 40.

That’s a jump of 10 percent from just 18 months ago and represents a dramatic shift for the car company, which prides itself on its exclusivity. But this shift isn’t just a footnote, it’s a sign that the prancing horse is galloping into a new era.

Read: Ferrari Patents Oval-Piston V12 With Weird Shared Conrods

Without going into the details of just how Ferrari managed to achieve this seismic shift in new car sales, Ferrari’s CEO Benedetto Vigna laid all credit to those around him. “I don’t know, for other brands, but for us, it is an achievement thanks to our team,” Vigna said, speaking to CNBC.

Still Exclusive, Still Ferrari

Enzo Ferrari’s mantra, to deliver one less car than the market demands, has been a hallmark of the company’s strategy — and according to Vigna, that’s not about to change. The brand is still keeping production tight, despite customers urging them to cut down on the more-than-two-year delivery window.

 Ferrari Sees Huge Surge In Young Buyers As It Gears Up For EVs

Vigna says that it’s part of the experience, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a 78-year-old looking to enjoy the final years of his life, or a 37-year-old keen to get the keys before his 40th birthday. The wait time will stay the same. Customers can beg all they want for quicker delivery times, but Ferrari isn’t in the business of mass production, and they aren’t about to start now.

“One client at 78-years-old had to buy a Ferrari and he said: ‘Look, I cannot wait two years.’ I said: ‘This is a motivation’,” Vigna told CNBC. “There is another guy, younger, 37, and he said: ‘When I am older, I would like to get the car before I am 40.’ I said: ‘Don’t worry, you will get it when you are 39,’” he added.

One thing that won’t stay the same is the way some Ferraris are powered. The Italian sportscar maker is gearing up to launch its first fully electric vehicle on October 9, alongside five other new models this year. Vigna is confident in the brand’s three-pronged approach: traditional combustion engines, hybrids, and fully electric Ferraris.

Of course, not everyone is on board with an EV Ferrari. Some loyalists won’t consider anything without a high-revving, naturally aspirated V12, but the company’s CEO suggests that there’s a new wave of customers who will only buy if it’s electric.

 Ferrari Sees Huge Surge In Young Buyers As It Gears Up For EVs

New Jeep Compass Shows Its Face, Debuts This Spring

  • The new Jeep Compass shows more skin in teasers ahead of its global debut.
  • It has been confirmed that production of the SUV will begin in Italy this year.
  • However, the North American launch of the Jeep Compass might be delayed.

Stellantis has dropped a few more teasers of the new-generation Jeep Compass, revealing that it will make its global debut in Europe this spring.

European production of the revamped Compass will begin later this year at the Melfi plant in Italy, a detail confirmed to Carscoops by Stellantis spokesperson Lou Ann Gosselin last month. Meanwhile, production at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Canada has been put on hold as Stellantis rethinks its product strategy for North America.

More Changes on the Horizon for Jeep

In addition to the initial teaser showing the Compass’ profile, Jeep has now unveiled more design details. The SUV will retain its iconic seven-slot grille, paired with a set of boxier headlights—an homage to the Jeep Recon, though these headlights are a bit slimmer here. The updated taillights feature sharp LED graphics that follow the contours of the rear shoulders.

More: 2026 Jeep Cherokee Successor Caught With Wagoneer S DNA And Gas Engines

The new Compass will ride on Stellantis’ STLA Medium architecture, which it shares with several other models, including the Peugeot 3008/5008, Opel Grandland, DS 7, and the upcoming Citroen C5 Aircross. The Compass will offer a variety of powertrain options, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fully electric versions, with all-wheel drive available on certain trims.

 New Jeep Compass Shows Its Face, Debuts This Spring
The official teaser (above) and an AI-generated rendering (below) of the new Jeep Compass.
 New Jeep Compass Shows Its Face, Debuts This Spring

Stellantis promises the new Compass will offer “affordable Jeep capability, best-in-class performance, and state-of-the-art technology.” As with other SUVs in the Stellantis family, we can expect the latest in connectivity and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) from their parts bin.

But unlike some of its more mainstream counterparts, the Compass is likely to lean into its adventurous roots, sporting bolder interior accents—think along the lines of the smaller Jeep Avenger.

Launch Timeline Still in Flux

While the European launch is set for the second half of 2025, the timing for the Compass’ arrival in North America remains unclear. There are rumors that Stellantis may reconsider launching the electric version in the United States and Canada, which could push the release back by as much as a year.

As we get closer to its spring debut, more details about the new Jeep Compass are sure to surface. In the meantime, it seems North America will have to play the waiting game a little longer.

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Stellantis

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