Tesla UK sales hit 250,000 as European demand plummets

Tesla has hit a sales landmark in the UK with the delivery of its 250,000th car.

The US brand reached the milestone in late March, 11 years after introducing the Model S to the country.

It reached the 200,000-car mark in 2024 and has since delivered a further 50,000 vehicles as it continues to grow its UK market share. The latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that Tesla sold almost 4,000 cars in February 2025 – a 21% year-on-year increase which gave it a 4.6% share of the new car market last month.

Its Model 3 and Model Y were the second and third best-selling cars in the UK in February ahead of the launch of the updated Model Y.

While it continues to do well in the UK, Tesla has slumped in the rest of Europe, with sales almost halving last month.

The latest figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) show that Tesla registrations were down 44% in February, even as EV sales rallied across the region.

The data, which covers the EU, UK, Norway and Switzerland, shows Tesla sold 16,888 models, including the 3,852 in the UK. Its market share declined from 2.8% in February 2024 to 1.8% in February 2025.

In contrast, sales of pure electric vehicles were up 24% overall as Tesla’s rivals including Volkswagen, BYD and BMW enjoyed large increases in deliveries.

After a 46% decline in January, February is the second consecutive month of decline for the troubled car maker, which is under economic, political and consumer pressure.

Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration and his apparent support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Deutschland have seen consumers vow to avoid the brand and led to protests outside dealerships in the United States.

Competition from an expanding pool of rivals offering similar performance and range is also causing Tesla problems, and analysts also point to the brand’s ageing model range – with customers waiting for the arrival of the updated Model Y – to explain the slump.

Felipe Munoz, a global analyst at JATO Dynamics, commented: “Tesla is experiencing a period of immense change. In addition to Elon Musk’s increasingly active role in politics and the increased competition it is facing within the EV market, the brand is phasing out the existing version of the Model Y – its bestselling vehicle – before it rolls out the update.

“Brands like Tesla, which have a relatively limited model lineup, are particularly vulnerable to registration declines when undertaking a model changeover.”