Tesla shares steady in premarket after crash probe expands to self-driving

Tesla UK registrations dropped sharply in February—down 37.1% to 2,422 vehicles—even as total new-car registrations in Britain climbed 7.2% to 90,100, a level not seen for February since 2004. BYD, Tesla’s Chinese competitor, closed in fast, with its registrations soaring 83.0% to 2,154, nearly overtaking Tesla’s tally.

Tesla’s UK sales slumped 37% in February versus the same month last year, according to industry data out Thursday, as Chinese EV makers like BYD ramped up their presence. Tesla, for its part, pushed back, saying “monthly registration figures are not an accurate reflection of sales or orders taken” and arguing that quarterly trends offer a more reliable gauge.

UK new car registrations climbed 7.2% in February, hitting 90,100 units—marking the most active February since 2004, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on Thursday. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 24.2% of those registrations, though the year-to-date figure sits around 22%, trailing the 33% required by 2026. “EV uptake must accelerate rapidly,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.