Tesla’s UK car sales plunged by half in October compared to a year earlier, according to data released on Wednesday by research group New AutoMotive, mirroring the sharp declines the U.S. electric vehicle maker has experienced across several European markets.
The figures showed just 495 new Tesla registrations in the UK last month — a 51% drop from the 1,013 recorded in October 2024. The slump underscores Tesla’s growing challenges in Europe, where its aging lineup is struggling to compete with a wave of newer, more affordable electric vehicles from traditional automakers and fast-rising Chinese brands.
Across the broader UK market, total new car registrations fell 17.7% year-on-year to 121,896 units in October, New AutoMotive reported. The decline was exacerbated by an unprecedented cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover, the country’s largest carmaker, which forced a near six-week shutdown of its domestic plants. The company began partially resuming manufacturing operations earlier in the month.
