BYD is making its presence felt in the UK after registrations jumped more than fivefold last month. The EV leader registered over 3,000 vehicles in May, overtaking Tesla, and is quickly closing in on its full-year sales. With its most affordable EV hitting the market, BYD is expected to gain even more ground this year.
BYD UK registrations top 3,000 in May 2025
According to the latest data from the Society of Manufacturers and Traders (SMNT), BYD registered 3,025 vehicles in the UK last month, up 407% from just 596 in May 2024.
Tesla, on the other hand, had just 2,016 vehicles registered in the UK last month, 36% fewer than it did in May 2024.
Through the first five months of the year, BYD has quickly closed the gap with Tesla, registering 14,807 vehicles. That’s up 570% from just 2,207 last year. Tesla has registered 15,002, 7.8% fewer than it did last year.
Overall, new vehicle registrations rose 1.6% in the UK last month to 150,070 units. It was the UK’s best May sales month since 2021.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) saw the highest growth with nearly 17,900 registrations, more than double the number from last year.
Registrations of fully electric vehicles (EVs) rose 25.8% to 32,728 units. Although EV market share rose to 21.8% in May, up from 17.6% last year, registrations are still well below the UK’s mandated level. Through the first five months of the year, EVs hold a 20.9% market share, which is far off the 28% target set by regulation.
Heavy discounts helped drive registration growth, which SMNT said is “unsustainable for a sector already facing multiple cost pressures.”
BYD already registered more vehicles in Europe than Tesla in April, and its best-selling (and cheapest) EV is just arriving.
Last month, BYD launched the Dolphin Surf, the European version of its top-selling Seagull EV in China, which retails for under $10,000 in its home market. The company sold over 60,100 Seagull models in China last month alone.
The standard range model starts at around 23,000 euros ($26,000) with a WLTP driving range of 220 km (137 miles). A longer-range variant is available, starting at 24,990 euros, and has a 507 km (315 miles) range.
Electrek’s Take
With new entry-level models, luxury vehicles, midsize SUVs, and more rolling out, will BYD surpass Tesla this year in the UK and Europe? It looks likely.
S&P Global Mobility forecasts that BYD’s sales in Europe will double this year to around 186,000. By 2029, its sales could reach around 400,000. Even with tariffs, the report notes that the Dolphin Surf’s “pricing strategy ensures competitiveness in the EU.”
The low-cost EV is likely to play a significant role as BYD emerges as a genuine threat in the UK and Europe. We will learn more soon. Check back soon for the latest updates.
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