Tesla sales in the UK surged by more than 20% last month, showing resilience despite concerns over a potential buyer backlash linked to Elon Musk’s controversial role in Donald Trump’s administration.
According to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), nearly 4,000 Teslas were sold in January, with the Model 3 and Model Y ranking as the second and third best-selling cars, trailing only the Mini Cooper.
Tesla’s 20.7% year-on-year sales growth outpaced the overall UK car market, which saw 84,054 new registrations—a 1% decline compared to the same period last year.
The SMMT reported that sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) surged nearly 42%, making up a quarter of all new registrations. The increase is largely driven by buyers rushing to avoid a new tax on high-value cars, set to take effect in April, which will impact many electric vehicles for the first time.
Meanwhile, there are signs that Elon Musk’s involvement in European political affairs and his prominent role in Donald Trump’s administration may be triggering a consumer backlash among Tesla owners and potential buyers.
The tech billionaire and key Trump adviser has courted controversy by making fascist-style salutes, expressing support for Germany’s far-right AfD party, brandishing a “chainsaw of democracy” at a conservative conference, and accusing Keir Starmer and other senior politicians of covering up the grooming gangs scandal.
As a result, Tesla’s European sales nearly halved in January, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), causing its market share to drop to just 1%.
