Tesla sales rise in UK despite global backlash against Elon Musk

[midian182]

In brief: Elon Musk's close relationship with Donald Trump and his outspoken views have led to a backlash against Tesla vehicles in many countries around the world. However, sales of the EVs in the UK rose by a fifth last month, with the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y the nation's second and third most-popular models, respectively.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) writes that almost 4,000 Teslas were sold in the UK in February, up 20.7% year on year and increasing Tesla's market share from 3.75% in February 2024 to 4.6% last month.

Electric vehicle popularity continues to grow in the UK. Plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEVs) registrations were up 19.3% and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) increased 7.9%. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations were up by 41.7% to 21,244. That's despite the UK's overall car market declining by 1% to 84,054 new registrations.

The figures are a contrast to Tesla's declining popularity in Europe. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association showed sales of new Tesla cars almost halved in Europe last month, which is being attributed to Musk's support of Trump, his role as head of DOGE, the dismantling of USAid, and association with Germany's far-right AfD party.

It's not just in Europe where Tesla's business is suffering. Sales in Australia were down 72% last month compared to the same period a year earlier. Sales of Tesla's entry level Model 3, which had been the second-best selling EV in Australia in 2024, were down 81%.

In Germany, demand for anti-Musk stickers for Tesla cars has exploded, and several corporations have said they will no longer be using Teslas in their fleet vehicles.

In Poland, the country's tourism minister called on citizens to boycott Tesla vehicles. There was also a poll in the Netherlands suggesting 31% of respondents who owned Teslas were considering selling or had already sold them.

Figures for the start of 2025 show Tesla registrations were down 63% YoY in France, 59% in Germany, 44% in Sweden, and 38% in Norway. It has been noted that factors beyond Musk may have played a part in these fallinf sales, including customers awaiting Tesla's release of the updated Y model, cheaper Chinese rivals, and people buying fewer cars in general.

In addition to the UK, Tesla sales have also risen in the US. Preliminary data for February indicates that around 42,000 of its EVs were sold during the month in the United States, up 14% year-on-year.

Masthead: Bruno Martins

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Tesla sales rise in UK despite global backlash against Elon Musk

 

[VitalyT]

Looking forward to the industry-wide backlash, when all victims of the EV fad start buying combustion-engine cars.

My 2017 Audi A6 is running without a single issue for 8 years now. My EV friends are buying their third car since then, as the 2 before fell apart.

 

[NicktheWVAHick]

No surprises there. A lot of Democrat Actors & Actresses also said they would move to another country if Trump were elected…not just once but twice. They never did.
It’s their mantra…do as I say, not as I do. They are not well.

 

[sreams]

Looking forward to the industry-wide backlash, when all victims of the EV fad start buying combustion-engine cars.

My 2017 Audi A6 is running without a single issue for 8 years now. My EV friends are buying their third car since then, as the 2 before fell apart.

Cars "falling apart" has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not they are EVs.

 

[VitalyT]

Cars "falling apart" has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not they are EVs.

Motor failing, battery catching rain and dying, losing battery power too fast, overall EV unreliable crappy quality. Yeah, it has everything to do with EV-s that polluted the market.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

"psst" I'mma let you in on a SECRET. Social media, ISNT reality! Tesla's still the biggest EV maker in the west and theyll be that way for awhile.

 

[NumberNine]

EVs are pretty cool, but the people charged with managing things become too passionate about their money fights and contracts for us to have reliable charging infrastructure so they're not really practical to own unless you also establish your own infrastucture or don't leave town very often. That's the obstacle to adoption. If they'd build chargers everywhere, EVs could work. Everything else is useless talking.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

Motor failing, battery catching rain and dying, losing battery power too fast, overall EV unreliable crappy quality. Yeah, it has everything to do with EV-s that polluted the market.

This is complete nonsense. The only part that is true is that the quality for a lot of EV parts are crappy (the trim and probably all the actuators). That's just because EV models are new and need to save money compared to their gas powered competitors. EV motors, batteries, waterproofing, and brakes are all far superior in reliability and longevity on an EV. It would be unusual for the battery or motor to need to be replaced at 200,000 miles.

For costs, the downsides are only tire, insurance, and registration (and these are not significant differences anymore). EVs are superior on fuel costs and maintenance costs, which is where the TCO of an EV will make it cheaper than gas vehicles.

 

[axiomatic13]

Looking forward to the industry-wide backlash, when all victims of the EV fad start buying combustion-engine cars.

My 2017 Audi A6 is running without a single issue for 8 years now. My EV friends are buying their third car since then, as the 2 before fell apart.

My F-150 Lightning could beat the pants off your Audi A6 and I pay 12 cents per kilowatt to charge it. Sure, I pay a lot more if I charge it out in the world, but it's still far less cost than an ICE engine. I don't travel far enough daily that I ever need to charge elsewhere. There is no way an ICE engine can beat 12 cents per kilowatt. Also, when the power goes out here in Texas, which it does all the time, I run my house off the truck, AC and all. Can you Audi do that?

 

[VitalyT]

My F-150 Lightning could beat the pants off your Audi A6 and I pay 12 cents per kilowatt to charge it. Sure, I pay a lot more if I charge it out in the world, but it's still far less cost than an ICE engine. I don't travel far enough daily that I ever need to charge elsewhere. There is no way an ICE engine can beat 12 cents per kilowatt. Also, when the power goes out here in Texas, which it does all the time, I run my house off the truck, AC and all. Can you Audi do that?

My Audi A6 will beat your F-150 on longevity 10 times over, you can count your "saved" money after

 

[Kotters]

My hybrid has been running perfectly for the last 7 years. Want an EV next.

 

[VitalyT]

My hybrid has been running perfectly for the last 7 years. Want an EV next.

Then you'll be like, my EV ran only for 7 months, I want a hybrid back Beware of what you wish for

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Little surprise here.

With Musk's proximity to the White House I'd bet on Teslas getting some unspoken market advantages and if I was in the market for an EV I'd buy Tesla over anyone that was directly competing with Tesla.

 

[Kotters]

Then you'll be like, my EV ran only for 7 months, I want a hybrid back Beware of what you wish for

Nah. My buddy had commuted with their tesla for years, doesn't even touch the steering wheel anymore.

Just because you used snarky emotes doesn't make it true.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

My hybrid has been running perfectly for the last 7 years. Want an EV next.

I'm waiting for an Ev that can do what I need without costing double my salary.

When I can get a ford maverick with silverado EV tier range for less then $40k I'll jump.

 

[pnntmp]

There is no such thing as "global backlash against Elon Musk" - that's a leftist mass media concoction.

The dip in Tesla sales is due to combination of factors, mainly most governments quietly removing climate hysteria 'measures', including those pushing EV sales - such as tax credits, free parking in central city areas etc.

 

[antiproduct]

I'm sure those tariffs against Chinese EV makers aren't going anywhere soon. President Musk will make sure of that.

 

[Karlos95]

"psst" I'mma let you in on a SECRET. Social media, ISNT reality! Tesla's still the biggest EV maker in the west and theyll be that way for awhile.

Not just social media, but mainstream media also, isn't reality. They love to push their anti-musk/Trump/Right-wing agenda.

Someone who is in the middle can see both sides are lunatics, but the left win for most dramatic lunatics.

*Cue having this comment deleted by moderators because anti-right is allowed, but anti-left isn't... almost like this website has the same agenda... Paid by USAID perhaps?*

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

There is no such thing as "global backlash against Elon Musk" - that's a leftist mass media concoction.

The dip in Tesla sales is due to combination of factors, mainly most governments quietly removing climate hysteria 'measures', including those pushing EV sales - such as tax credits, free parking in central city areas etc.

Far more important is the fact that Tesla is working on transitioning manufacturing of its top selling model to the refreshed version, the Model Y. Sales for it begins this month and so in the meantime production has been down. In addition, they've been advertising the new model on their website for months. The fact is people have been ignoring significant business news when production last quarter was 36k less than deliveries (indicating that they're clearing out inventory).

 

[Karlos95]

Personally, I think EVs have their place, but only inner city drives and maybe back to the suburbs.
If you want to do real driving, imo the infrastructure just isn't there. Especially, in my country, Australia.
My brother-in-law gave me and my dad a lift in his EV the other day to an event, it was a 40 minute drive and the charge went down incredibly quick for constant speed.
He said he can do more Ks in the city as all the braking puts the charge back in.

Eventually I'll grab an EV but I will also have an old-school back up petrol 4x4 for adventures.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

Little surprise here.

With Musk's proximity to the White House I'd bet on Teslas getting some unspoken market advantages and if I was in the market for an EV I'd buy Tesla over anyone that was directly competing with Tesla.

The market advantages are clear, it's a better car than the competition. That's why they're at 1.8M deliveries last year up 3000x from 2011.

 

[hahahanoobs]

I'm sure those tariffs against Chinese EV makers aren't going anywhere soon. President Musk will make sure of that.

Chinese EV's would destroy the American auto industry. It's the most telling but most justifiable tariff. Sadly it exists because American car companies thrive on charging more for less. $100K pickups and $150K Wagoneers is not sustainable.

 

[hahahanoobs]

Looking forward to the industry-wide backlash, when all victims of the EV fad start buying combustion-engine cars.

My 2017 Audi A6 is running without a single issue for 8 years now. My EV friends are buying their third car since then, as the 2 before fell apart.

Sure. If you assume Tesla is the only EV in Europe.
Spoiler: Drops in Tesla sales result in consumers buying EV's from other EV car companies. Europe has far more EV options than the US.

Germany is the biggest buyer of EV's in Europe and their Tesla sales have dropped 76% YoY. I guess the home of the salute Musk copied isn't a supporter. Works in the US though unsurprisingly. Tesla sales in China are down 50%. BYD is king there among others. They have a few complete battery swap stations. They are miles ahead of everyone else. 69% of Shanghai drives an EV or hybrid as one examle. Remember all that smog we used to see in China? They did something about it. 9 out of 10 in Norway drive an EV. Their goal to eliminate ICE vehicles is near completion.

This talk about EV's being a fad has no proof. UK isn't the entire market and even though sales are up 20%, Teslas still only account for 10% down from 13% where other EV brands are stronger.

 

[sreams]

Motor failing, battery catching rain and dying, losing battery power too fast, overall EV unreliable crappy quality. Yeah, it has everything to do with EV-s that polluted the market.

What were the specific issues with your "EV friend's" vehicles, and what models were they?

 

[Tom Yum]

So EV market in UK grows by 42% and Tesla sales go up by 21%, so their EV market share dropped, even if their total market share increased (because EVs are becoming a larger part of the market). That isn't the good news story that the article is trying to make it