Tesla dominates UK car sales in June
The Tesla Model Y was the UK's best-selling car in June, with 6,765 registrations, according to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The Tesla Model 3 came second with 5,408 registrations, marking a strong performance for the electric vehicle manufacturer.
The result marks a significant shift from earlier in the year, when the Ford Puma, Kia Sportage, Jaecoo 7, Nissan Qashqai, and Vauxhall Corsa regularly competed for top positions. Tesla's one-two finish came despite controversy surrounding CEO Elon Musk, which had led to declining sales in 2025.
EV market recovery and buyer sentiment
Industry observers suggest that buyer sentiment has stabilised in 2026, with electric vehicles becoming more attractive partly due to higher fuel costs following geopolitical tensions, including the conflict involving Iran during Donald Trump's presidency. Last year, Tesla sales declined over Musk's political closeness to Trump and his involvement in polarising US politics.
The SMMT reported that the UK new car market continued its recovery in June, with registrations rising 11.4% to 213,166 units. This was the strongest performance for the month since 2019. The organisation said growth was driven entirely by electrified vehicles, pointing to continued manufacturer investment in a wider range of models and powertrains offering lower and zero-emission options.
Call for ZEV mandate reform
Despite the positive figures, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes cautioned that the pace of adoption still falls short of what is required for a full market transition. He said June's performance was particularly strong, highlighting rising demand for electric vehicles, with battery electric cars achieving their highest market share so far this year. He added that more than half of buyers are now opting for electrified models.
However, Hawes warned that even record levels of uptake are insufficient to meet mandated targets. He noted that manufacturers are investing heavily in developing new vehicles and bringing them to market, as well as spending significant sums on sales and promotion, yet the overall pace of transition remains too slow. He urged changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, arguing that adjustments are necessary to keep the transition on track. He said reform would be essential not only to maintain momentum but also to protect the UK's competitiveness, encourage continued investment, and safeguard jobs.
