Tesla UK sales drop 29% in December as Chinese rival BYD closes gap

Tesla's UK car registrations fell 29% year-on-year in December to 6,323 units, according to New AutoMotive data. For full-year 2025, UK sales dropped 8.9% amid intense competition from Chinese rivals and an ageing lineup.

Chinese competitor BYD saw UK registrations surge nearly fivefold to 5,194 units in December, though Tesla remains Britain's best-selling electric car brand. BYD recently overtook Tesla as the world's top EV maker after the U.S. firm reported its second consecutive annual sales decline.

The slump extends across Europe—Tesla registrations fell 27% to 4,300 vehicles in the Netherlands last month. Overall UK car registrations grew 3.5% in 2025 to 2 million units, the first pre-pandemic level, with Chinese brands MG (No.2) and BYD (No.6) among top 10 sellers.

For Nigerian investors and consumers watching EV trends: Does this signal Tesla's European dominance ending, or will the company's brand loyalty and charging infrastructure maintain its lead despite Chinese price competition?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/06/tesla-uk-car-sales-drop-29-as-chinese-brands-gain-ground/