Tesla’s UK Car Sales Drop Over 45% in May – What’s Going On?
Tesla’s UK car sales drop and took a major hit in May 2025, with a drop of over 45 percent compared to the same month last year. According to early data from various sources online suggest, Tesla registered only 1,758 cars, down sharply from 3,244 in May 2024. This decline happened even as the UK’s overall new car market grew by 4.3 percent year-on-year, with battery-electric vehicle (BEV) sales jumping by 28 percent. In short, more people are buying EVs — just not from Tesla.
Why Did Tesla’s Sales Crash?
1. Low Stock of Older Model Y
Tesla has been running down UK inventory of the older Model Y ahead of the launch of its updated version, which is expected to arrive from its Berlin Gigafactory in the coming weeks. That meant fewer deliveries in May.
2. Stronger Competition from Rivals
Other brands are quickly eating into Tesla’s market share. Chinese EV maker BYD more than doubled its UK sales to 1,388 units. Traditional European brands like Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, and Skoda also overtook Tesla in EV sales, pushing it down to fifth place for the month.
3. Elon Musk’s Political Controversy
Elon Musk has been openly aligning with far-right figures in Europe, which has created a PR problem for the brand. In Germany, Tesla sales dropped by over 75 percent in one month following his political endorsements — and UK buyers may be reacting in a similar way.
Meanwhile, EV Sales Are Booming
While Tesla’s numbers are falling, the rest of the EV market in the UK is growing fast.
- BEV sales in May rose by 28 percent year-on-year
- EVs now make up around 22 percent of all new car sales
- Brands like BYD, Kia, Hyundai, and MG are gaining momentum
In short, it’s not an EV problem — it’s a Tesla problem.
Will Tesla Recover?
Possibly — but it won’t be easy. Tesla is betting on the launch of the updated Model Y, which is expected to arrive in the UK later in June. That could lift sales in the second half of the year.
However, Tesla also needs to deal with:
- Strong competition from both Chinese brands and established European carmakers
- Growing public discomfort with Elon Musk’s personal politics
- A more price-sensitive and tech-savvy buyer base
Tesla’s UK sales are no longer guaranteed. They’ll need to fight for market share just like everyone else.
Quick Summary
- Tesla’s UK sales dropped from 3,244 in May 2024 to 1,758 in May 2025
- That’s a 45.8 percent drop year-on-year
- UK car sales overall grew by 4.3 percent
- EV sales are rising fast, but Tesla is losing ground
- Main issues: lack of stock, stronger competition, and political backlash
- A refreshed Model Y is due in June and could help turn things around
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