Tesla's new vehicle sales in the UK fell sharply in May, dropping more than 45% compared to the same month last year, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday by research group
New AutoMotive.
The company sold 1,758 vehicles in Britain last month, down from 3,244 in May 2024. Tesla has been losing market share in Europe, in part due to CEO Elon Musk’s alignment with far-right political views, which has drawn criticism across the region.
Despite the sharp decline, Tesla remains the top-selling battery electric vehicle (BEV) brand in the UK for the year to date.
Meanwhile, the broader UK car market showed growth. Total new car registrations rose by 4.3% in May to 144,098 units. BEV sales grew significantly as well, increasing by 28% year-over-year.
Among Chinese automakers, BYD made significant gains, more than doubling its UK sales to 1,388 vehicles in May. Photo by Philafrenzy, Wikimedia commons.