Tesla sales sink in UK, Germany as Europeans warm to Chinese rival BYD

Core Insights - Tesla's sales have significantly declined in Europe's largest car markets, with a 55% drop in Germany and nearly 60% in Britain, indicating a fundamental shift in the electric vehicle landscape [1][2][6] - BYD, a low-cost Chinese competitor, has seen substantial growth, quadrupling its registrations in Britain and increasing its first-half registrations in Germany to 4,544 units, compared to around 900 the previous year [7][9] Sales Performance - In Germany, Tesla registered only 1,110 new vehicles in July, down from previous figures, leading to a drop in market share from 8.3% to 3.6% [1][6] - In Britain, Tesla's registrations fell to 987 in July, marking a significant decline in its second-largest market [2] Competitive Landscape - BYD's sales surged, with over 1.1 million plug-in vehicles sold globally in Q2 2025, surpassing Tesla's 384,000 battery-only electric vehicles during the same period [9] - Tesla remains the most popular EV maker in the United States, holding a 46% market share in Q2 2025, despite a 15% sales drop in Q1 [10][12] Market Trends - Overall EV sales in Germany increased by 58% and by nearly 40% in Britain over the past seven months, highlighting a growing market despite Tesla's struggles [6] - Legacy automakers in the US, such as General Motors and Honda, have reported significant year-over-year gains in EV volume, indicating a shift in the competitive landscape [12]