A Chinese car company has overtaken Tesla for the first time as a growing number of Brits are shying away from buying a model from the Elon Musk-owned company.
During a particularly important month for Elon Musk, who began his role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency for Donald Trump, his car brand saw a significant slump in sales.
According to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Tesla sold 1,458 models in the UK during January 2025 – a decline of 7.78 percent compared to the same month in 2024.
In comparison, the Chinese car maker BYD sold 1,614 models during the 31-day period, marking a staggering 550.81 percent rise in 12 months.
Whilst neither car brand featured in the month’s top 10 best-sellers, with both accounting for around one percent of the overall new car market, many motoring experts have considered it a defining moment for the Chinese car industry.
Whilst January is often a difficult month for car sales, a wide range of other European countries also experienced similar declines in sales of Teslas during January 2025.
In particular, France saw the sharpest drop in demand for the American company’s electric models, experiencing a 63.4 percent decrease, whereas the Netherlands faced a 42.5 percent decline.
Interest also dropped in Germany during the month, with sales reduced from 3,150 in the first month of 2024 to just 1,277 a year later.
One of the reasons why Tesla experienced a drop in sales during January 2025 is due to the company’s ageing lineup of EVs, with their most recent car offered in Europe, the Model Y crossover, being introduced in 2020.
In comparison, the recent months have seen a wide range of attractive and capable electric cars introduced, both from traditional Western companies and new Chinese brands.
Many of these models have also been introduced for lower prices, with cars like the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03 available for less than £20,000.
In a bid to boost interest, Tesla are due to refresh their Model Y, previously the best-selling electric model in the UK, giving it a sharper appearance and a longer range of up to 447 miles per charge.
The company also aims to expand their Gigafactory in Berlin, which currently employs 11,500 workers, and expand the network of Superchargers across Europe.
Elon Musk has previously announced that a more affordable Tesla model is in the works, with some motoring experts speculating a starting price of around £24,000.