The introduction of the Model Y to the UK helped propel the electric SUV to become the top selling car in the UK in March, even when taking into account internal combustion engine cars.
According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), a total of 6,464 Model Ys were registered last month, the first full month the car has been offered in the UK.
Not to be left behind, the Model 3 was the second most popular car last month, accumulating 6,457 registrations, just seven fewer than its big brother.
The closest competitor, the budget-friendly Vauxhall Corsa, which starts at around £15,000 (~$25,000 CAD), was nearly 1,000 units behind the two EVs with 5,515 registrations.
With the strong sales in March, the Model Y and Model 3 sit in sixth and seventh place respectively in year-to-date sales.
Tesla’s rising sales were in stark contrast to the overall car market in the UK, which saw its weakest March since 1998 with registrations plunging 14.3% to 243,479 units.
The biggest drop went to diesel-powered cars which plummeted 55.2% compared to the same month last year.
Petrol cars saw a 25.6% drop in the same time frame.
In what is becoming a familiar trend in markets around the world, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales were the polar opposite.
Data from SMMT shows sales grew 78.7% to 39,315 registrations last month.
That gave BEVs a strong 16.1% market share, and was the highest volume of BEV registrations ever recorded in a single month in the UK.
