LONDON, March 5, 2026, 21:16 GMT
Industry data showed Tesla (TSLA.O) registered 2,422 cars in the UK this February—a 37% slide year-on-year—even as BYD, the Chinese competitor, surged 83% on the same metric. But a Tesla spokesperson pushed back, saying, “Tesla monthly registration figures are not an accurate reflection of sales or orders taken,” emphasizing that quarterly numbers tell a more reliable story since UK deliveries come in large batches. 1
The broader UK market moved in the opposite direction. According to SMMT, February saw new car registrations climb 7.2% to 90,100—marking the busiest February since 2004. BEV registrations inched up 2.8% to 21,840, but their market share slipped again, now at 24.2% for a second month. “All eyes are now on ‘new plate’ March,” SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said, as the industry works toward the 33% zero-emission sales share target set for this year by the UK’s Zero Emission Vehicle mandate. 2
This is especially relevant with March being the UK’s major plate-change month, which often drags demand into the first quarter. Depending on shipment timing, that can either soften or amplify what appears to be a sharp monthly swing.
Transport research group New Automotive logged 2,208 Tesla registrations in the UK for February—a steep 45.2% slide from last year. BYD, on the other hand, jumped 40.9% to 968 vehicles. Tesla’s year-to-date drop sits at 5%, according to the firm. New Automotive CEO Ben Nelmes said “one in four motorists” picked an electric in February, calling the momentum “yet another step on the road to energy independence.” 3
Tesla’s grip is slipping. Both datasets tally different totals, yet the story’s the same: more EVs on the road, electric share inching up, and Chinese brands—no longer just statistical noise—are gaining serious traction.
Tesla is working its way through Europe’s regulatory maze. According to an EU filing, the Tesla-run carbon-credit pool—a setup allowing automakers to merge fleet emissions in pursuit of EU CO2 goals—is coming back for 2026, but Stellantis and Toyota are out for now. Both companies were on board last year. Stellantis said it’s “not currently participating” for 2026, though left the door open to join later. Over at Toyota Europe, a spokesman said “it’s too early” to know if pooling will be necessary. 4
That “later” qualifier is key. Both the pool and the bill remain in flux.
Tesla’s short-term picture in Britain is still hard to pin down. Registrations get jolted by the March plate-change rush and those quarter-end delivery bursts, so February by itself doesn’t tell the full story. Should the drop keep going into spring, Tesla could be staring at a tougher push for sales in a market where competitors are picking up speed.
For now, those February numbers are throwing more light on Tesla’s showing in Europe, right as officials and automakers push harder on EV adoption to stay on track with stricter targets.
