Tesla's European sales plunged in January, falling 45% compared with the same month in 2024.The decline came despite a rise in EV sales in Europe, with Tesla falling behind China's SAIC Motor.Elon Musk has waded into European politics in recent months, backing far right-wing German party AfD.Tesla sales in Europe plunged in January, falling 45% compared with the same month last year, while overall sales of electric vehicles increased.Elon Musk's automaker sold 9,945 vehicles last month in the European Union and UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, figures from European Automotive Manufacturers' Association showed. There were 18,161 sales in January 2024.In December Tesla sold 44,697 vehicles across the same markets. Tesla had a 1% market share in January, down from 1.8% in the same month last year. That decline put it behind China's SAIC Motor, whose sales grew 37% to nearly 17,000 vehicles in January under brands including MG. The company had a 2.3% market share, up from 1.7%. It sells petrol and hybrid cars as well as EVs. Chinese EV giant BYD also outsold Tesla in the UK for the first time in January, according to separate industry data, as China's EV makers continue to put Musk's company under pressure.Tesla, which recorded its first annual fall in sales last year, is changing over assembly lines at its factory near Berlin as it prepares to start building the revamped Model Y this year.Overall sales of battery electric vehicles jumped 34% to 124,341 in Europe last month, giving the category a 15% market share, up from 10.9% in January 2024.Tesla's declines follow Musk's decision to wade into European politics in recent months, and he endorsed Germany's far-right AfD party ahead of last Sunday's elections.The AfD won the second-highest share in the election, but seems unlikely to form part of the next government.The billionaire spoke virtually at campaign events for the anti-immigrant and anti-European Union party. AfD leader Alice Weidel said Musk called to congratulate her after the party's historic election performance.Musk's involvement in European politics has sparked public backlash, protests, and isolated acts of vandalism.Last month, activists projected an image of a controversial gesture the Tesla CEO made at an event marking President Donald Trump's inauguration, which some interpreted as a fascist salute,Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.