Tesla's UK retail performance weakened markedly in February, with New Automotive reporting a 45.2% year-on-year fall to 2,208 vehicles sold. By contrast, BYD - the Chinese electric vehicle maker - expanded its UK deliveries by 40.9% to 968 units over the same period.
The data indicate continued volatility in Tesla's monthly delivery pattern, and New Automotive highlighted that Tesla's year-to-date volumes are down 5% compared with the prior year. That cumulative decline suggests the February contraction may attract attention from investors and industry watchers focused on market share dynamics.
Competitive pressure from Chinese manufacturers is a central theme in the sales report. The analysis notes that Tesla's market position in the UK has come under strain as brands such as BYD and SAIC-owned MG intensify their presence. New Automotive linked that pressure in part to Tesla's ageing model range, which the report says is finding it difficult to keep pace with newer offerings coming into the market.
February weakness for Tesla was not confined to the UK. New Automotive recorded falls in Tesla deliveries in Italy, Denmark and Sweden in the same month, signalling a broader set of challenges for the brand across parts of Europe.
Despite brand-specific shifts, the wider UK market showed ongoing adoption of electrified vehicles. Battery-electric vehicles accounted for one quarter of the overall UK car market in February, and roughly one third of new registrations had a plug, according to the New Automotive figures.
"It is fantastic to see one in four motorists opting for an electric car in February," Ben Nelmes, chief executive of New Automotive, said. "As we enter yet another fossil fuel price crisis, every electric vehicle is yet another step on the road to energy independence."
Across all fuel types, UK new car registrations rose 3.6% in February to 83,377 vehicles. The data point underlines that while some manufacturers face headwinds, the overall market continued to expand modestly during the month.
As the market evolves, the New Automotive data highlight divergent trajectories for incumbent and emerging manufacturers in the UK and parts of Europe, with implications for market share and product competitiveness.