Tesla is blaming struggling EV sales on hybrid craze

• Tesla is blaming hybrids for stealing EV sales.

• Inexpensive hybrid cars have become a popular choice for green-car shoppers.

• That's a real problem for Tesla, which doesn't sell hybrids.

Tesla is pointing the finger at hybrids as its electric cars experience a drop in demand.

In the opening page of its first-quarter earnings presentation Tuesday, Tesla blamed an industry-wide prioritization of these partially battery-powered cars for putting pressure on global EV sales and — by extension — Tesla's sales.

"While positive for our regulatory credits business, we prefer the industry to continue pushing EV adoption, which is in-line with our mission," Tesla wrote.

Elon Musk's Tesla is right that hybrids are currently having a moment.