BYD narrows gap to Tesla as UK sales skyrocket

BYD has reinforced its position as the UK’s fastest-growing car maker in the first quarter of 2025, achieving more sales in just three months than in the entirety of last year.

From January to March 2025, the Chinese auto maker shifted 9,271 cars according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which represents an enormous 625% increase compared to the same period last year in the UK.

BYD was relatively unknown on our shores just a few years ago, but its lineup of affordable EVs and plug-in hybrids is proving to be popular with buyers. Its two best-selling cars in the first quarter of 2025 were the BYD Seal U and the Seal – the former is the most popular plug-in hybrid so far this year, while the Seal is an electric saloon that currently ranks seventh in the EV sales charts.

The good news for BYD arrives as the UK achieves a new monthly record for electric car registrations in March 2025. Despite the recently-introduced changes to VED tax and company-car tax rules for EVs, more UK buyers are making the switch from traditional petrol and diesel cars to electric alternatives.

While BYD cracks open the champagne, things are looking slightly more tumultuous at Tesla. The US car maker has seen sales nosedive in certain European markets, particularly in Germany where Q1 sales fell by over 60% according to the country’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. However, in the UK, Tesla saw an increase of 6% in sales figures compared to Q1 2024, with the company shifting 12,474 cars according to the SMMT.

That’s over 3,000 more sales than BYD managed, helping to maintain Tesla’s position as the UK’s best-selling EV manufacturer. However, Tesla’s overall UK market share has marginally shrunk compared to Q1 last year, while its share of the UK’s EV market has dropped by around 4%.

As the UK’s electric car market continues to expand at a rapid rate, with new entries from established brands and upstarts alike, competition is only set to increase for Tesla’s relatively ageing lineup. The brand currently sells two cars in the UK, with the Model 3 and Model Y having first gone on sale in 2017 and 2020, respectively. In contrast, BYD has already introduced two new electric models to the UK this year – the Atto 2 and the Sealion 7.

Find out more about our favourite electric cars, or check out our sister site Auto Express for the latest BYD deals and Tesla deals…