Tesla UK car sales drop 37% as Chinese competition heightens, SMMT data shows
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A Tesla dealership is seen in West Drayton, just outside London, Britain, February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
March 5 (Reuters) - Tesla's UK sales dropped 37% in February from a year earlier, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed on Thursday, as the automaker stayed under pressure from booming demand for EVs from Chinese competitors such as BYD.
Tesla's sales declined to 2,422 vehicles during the month from 3,852 units a year earlier, the data showed.
Overall, total new car sales in the UK rose 7.2% to 90,100 units, marking the best February since 2004, the data showed, helped by recovering private retail sales.
"Tesla monthly registration figures are not an accurate reflection of sales or orders taken," a spokesperson for Tesla said in an email sent to the UK media, adding that quarterly registrations gauged Tesla sales better due to the way vehicles were delivered into the UK from its factories.
"Across January and February the orders and reservations from customers far exceed their respective months in 2025 and 2024, however these orders remain unfulfilled as we have not yet registered and delivered these cars to customers," the Tesla spokesperson said.
The SMMT data echoed trends revealed by transport research firm New Automotive on Wednesday, which showed Tesla sales dropped to nearly half at 2,208 vehicles in February.
New Automotive data showed BYD sales rose 40%, but volumes continued to trail Tesla. SMMT data showed BYD sales soared 83% but still lagged Tesla in volumes.
SMMT and New Automotive use different data sources and calculation methods, explaining the differences in the figures.
(Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Nick Carey in London; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
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