Wed 5 Mar 2025 06.40 EST Last modified on Wed 5 Mar 2025 14.25 EST Share Sales of Teslas in the UK rose by more than a fifth last month as demand for battery-powered cars increased, despite the prospect of a buyer backlash over Elon Musk’s controversial and divisive behaviour since becoming a key figure in Donald Trump’s administration. Almost 4,000 Teslas were sold in the UK in February, with the Model 3 and Model Y proving the second and third most popular after the Mini Cooper, according to the latest new car registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Tesla sales were up 20.7% year on year, lifting the company’s market share from 3.75% in February 2024 to 4.6% last month, suggesting Musk’s actions have not yet hurt the electric vehicle maker in the UK. The overall market declined by 1%, with 84,054 new registrations. The SMMT said that sales of full electric vehicles rose almost 42% year on year, accounting for a quarter of all new registrations, because buyers are seeking to beat a new tax on expensive cars that comes into force in April and will affect many EVs for the first time. There has been some evidence that Musk’s interventions in European political affairs and his senior role in Trump’s administration are leading to a consumer backlash by some Tesla owners or prospective buyers.