Europe bulletin: Tesla slump deepens, UK tightens streaming rules

European business tensions are intensifying as corporate setbacks and policy shifts collide.

Tesla’s European sales slide has stretched into a 13-month decline, even as EV demand holds up for rivals.

The UK is moving to regulate streaming platforms like traditional broadcasters, marking a major shift in media oversight.

In Berlin, Chancellor Friedrich Merz heads to China seeking economic stability, while the BBC faces scrutiny after a racial slur aired during its delayed BAFTA broadcast.

Tesla's Europe woes continue

Tesla's European sales slump just hit a grim new milestone.

The company recorded just 8,075 new car registrations across Europe in January, a 17% year-on-year drop, marking the 13th consecutive month of declining sales on the continent.

Market share fell to 0.8%, down from 1% a year ago, as ING economist Rico Luman told CNBC it signals a "very weak" start to 2026 for Elon Musk's flagship EV brand.​

The rot runs deeper than competition.

BYD, Tesla's Chinese rival, posted gains in the same period, underlining that European buyers are choosing EVs, just not Teslas.

UK to regulate streaming platforms at par with broadcasters

Britain said it will bring streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ under rules similar to those faced by traditional broadcasters, giving regulator Ofcom powers to investigate and act on breaches.

The government said the changes aim to protect audiences from harmful or offensive material and ensure accessibility features such as subtitles are available.

Platforms with more than 500,000 UK users would have to meet standards including accurate and impartial news reporting.

Ministers said viewing habits have shifted: two-thirds of households subscribe to at least one streamer and 85% use on-demand monthly, versus 67% who watch live TV.

Germany's China pivot

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz heads to China this week with a blunt message from German industry: Europe needs market access and reliable supply chains as geopolitical pressure ramps up.

Merz, on his first China trip as chancellor, will travel with top executives, including leaders from Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as German firms face intense competition from China’s fast-growing EV makers and higher costs from US tariffs.

He is due to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and is expected to sign economic agreements, with stops at a Mercedes EV plant and a Siemens Energy site.

BBC apologises for racist slur

The BBC apologised after a racial slur was heard in its delayed broadcast of the BAFTA Film Awards, saying it failed to edit out an outburst from a guest with Tourette's syndrome.

The incident occurred while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award.

The ceremony aired about two hours after the live event, but the offensive word still made it to air and remained on BBC iPlayer until Monday morning.

BAFTA later issued its own apology, while host Alan Cumming addressed the audience, stressing the remarks were involuntary tics.