Tesla sold almost 60% fewer cars in Germany in January than in the year-earlier period, as the U.S. electric vehicle maker faces a test of popularity amid headline-grabbing political involvement by its billionaire CEO Elon Musk.

Tesla posted lower sales across five European countries in January, including the United Kingdom and France, as competitors with newer models gained on the electric vehicle maker and polls show public opinion souring on CEO Elon Musk.

Tesla sales have careened lower in Germany in January, as sales of the electric vehicle company headed by Elon Musk tumble across Europe.

Tesla Inc.’s sales plummeted 59% last month in Germany, where Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk asserted himself in national politics like never before.

Inc. saw a significant drop in its sales in Germany last month, with a decrease of 59%. The company registered only 1,277 new cars in January, marking its lowest monthly total since July 2021, according to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority.