BYD’s U.K. Registrations Hit 3,499 in Oct, Roughly Outpace Tesla Sevenfold

In the first 10 months of 2025, BYD reached 39,103 registrations in the U.K., up 547.4% YoY, while Tesla fell 4.5% to 35,455 units.

New data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show BYD registered 3,499 new vehicles in the U.K. in October, surging 348.59% year-on-year.

Tesla logged 511 units during the same month, down 47.4% from a year earlier, with BYD volumes roughly seven times higher.

In the first 10 months of 2025, BYD reached 39,103 registrations in the U.K., up 547.4% year-on-year, while Tesla fell 4.5% to 35,455 units.

By comparison, BYD recorded only 8,788 registrations in the U.K. in 2024, when Tesla volumes were close to six times higher. The shift marks a sharp reversal in the two companies’ standings in the U.K. EV market within just a year.

Pricing is a major draw for British consumers. The BYD Dolphin Surf starts at just over GBP 18,650 ($24,390), while the Tesla Model 3 is priced around GBP 40,000 ($53,600), a gap approaching 50%. In a high-inflation environment, demand for entry-level EVs has remained resilient.

BYD has been in the U.K. market for just over two years. In 2023, it opened its first four pilot stores; today, its network has expanded to more than 100 locations across major regions, helping support sales momentum.

Its U.K. trajectory reflects BYD’s wider global expansion. As of October 2025, BYD NEVs were sold in 117 countries and regions.

Elsewhere in Europe, its growth is similarly strong. According to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, BYD’s October registrations in Germany were more than four times Tesla’s. During the first 10 months of the year, BYD trailed Tesla by only 424 units.

Other Chinese brands are also scaling up in the U.K. In October, SAIC MG, Chery, Leapmotor, and XPeng registered 4,233, 1,263, 856 and 150 new vehicles, respectively.