Tesla UK sales October 2026: 282 cars, down 44.8%, as the quarter restarts
SMMT's October figures, published on 5 November, put Tesla on 282 registrations, its weakest month of 2026. The first month of each quarter is always thin for Tesla, and its year to date is still up 31.2%.
Quick answers
- Tesla registered 282 new cars in the UK in October 2026, down 44.8% from 511 in October 2025, according to SMMT figures published on 5 November.
- On our calculation that is 0.18% of the 152,730 new cars and about 0.58% of the 48,858 battery-electric cars registered in October.
- Tesla's year-to-date total is 46,526, up 31.2%, which on our calculation is 2.46% of all new cars and about 9.2% of battery-electric registrations in 2026.
- The first month of each quarter is Tesla's weakest: 512 cars in July 2026 and 282 in October, against 12,173 in June and 15,875 in September.
- No Tesla made October's electric top ten, which the Skoda Enyaq led with 1,568 registrations.
- Tesla's share of battery-electric registrations rose from 9.7% in the first half of 2026 to 10.9% in the third quarter, on our calculation from SMMT totals.
Tesla registered 282 new cars in the UK in October 2026, down 44.8% from 511 a year earlier, according to SMMT figures published on 5 November. It is Tesla’s lowest month of the year, but its 2026 total is still up 31.2% at 46,526.
This page tracks Tesla’s UK sales each month from SMMT data. October is the first month of Tesla’s fourth quarter, and the first month of a quarter is always its quietest, so the year-on-year comparison and the quarterly trend matter more than the single number.
How many Teslas were sold in the UK in October 2026?
SMMT’s brand figures put Tesla on 282 registrations in October, against 511 in October 2025. The whole market took 152,730 new cars, of which 48,858 were battery-electric, a 32.0% share (SMMT). On our calculation Tesla took 0.18% of all new cars and about 0.58% of electric cars, and no Tesla made the month’s electric top ten, which the Skoda Enyaq led with 1,568 (our October best-sellers list).
How has Tesla’s UK market share moved in 2026?
Tesla’s share has climbed this year once its quarterly peaks and troughs are averaged out. This is the EV Compared market share trend, built from SMMT totals.
| Period | Tesla registrations | All new cars | Tesla share of all cars | BEVs registered | Tesla share of BEVs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | 511 | 144,948 | 0.35% | 36,830 | 1.4% |
| January to June 2026 | 27,677 | 1,137,928 | 2.43% | 284,577 | 9.7% |
| June 2026 | 12,173 | 213,166 | 5.71% | 63,950 | 19.0% |
| July 2026 | 512 | 156,571 | 0.33% | 43,106 | 1.2% |
| August 2026 | 2,180 | 94,236 | 2.31% | 28,063 | 7.8% |
| September 2026 | 15,875 | 350,536 | 4.53% | 99,201 | 16.0% |
| July to September 2026 | 18,567 | 601,343 | 3.09% | 170,370 | 10.9% |
| January to September 2026 | 46,244 | 1,739,271 | 2.66% | 454,945 | 10.2% |
| October 2026 | 282 | 152,730 | 0.18% | 48,858 | 0.6% |
| January to October 2026 | 46,526 | 1,892,001 | 2.46% | 503,803 | 9.2% |
Method: Tesla registrations divided by SMMT’s total market and battery-electric totals for each period, with the first half taken as SMMT’s year-to-July totals minus July.
Two rows need a note. August’s 2,180 is the Model 3 (1,296) plus the Model Y (884) from Carwow’s SMMT table, and it reconciles exactly: 27,677 for the first half, plus 512, 2,180 and 15,875, gives SMMT’s year-to-date total of 46,244. The first-half market and BEV totals come from SMMT’s July release (1,294,499 cars and 327,683 BEVs to July) less July’s 156,571 and 43,106.
Why is October usually Tesla’s weakest month?
Tesla’s UK registrations follow its quarterly delivery cycle, so the first month of a quarter is thin and the last month is heavy. Tesla registered 511 cars in October 2025, according to EVXL, and 512 in July 2026, when it fell 48.1% and dropped to 35th among brands (Best Selling Cars Blog). The quarter-end months tell the opposite story: 12,173 in June, Tesla’s best June on record, and 15,875 in September.
That is why a single month says little. The fairer tests are the same month a year earlier and the quarterly share. On the quarterly measure Tesla went from 9.7% of BEV registrations in the first half to 10.9% in the third quarter.
Was October a bad month for Tesla?
Not by its own pattern. Tesla delivers most UK cars in the last month of each quarter, so the first month is thin: 512 cars in July 2026, 511 in October 2025 and 282 this October (Electrek makes the same point). The 44.8% fall is real, but on a small base; it is 229 cars.
The quarterly view is fairer. Tesla’s share of battery-electric registrations rose from 9.7% in the first half of 2026 to 10.9% in the third quarter, and September’s 15,875 (4.53% of the market) compared with 2.55% in September 2025; the September report has the Model 3 and Model Y split. December, the last month of the quarter, will show whether that holds. SMMT publishes November on Friday 4 December and December on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
How does Tesla compare with the wider EV market?
Battery-electric cars took 26.2% of the UK market in the first nine months of 2026, with 454,945 registrations, short of the 33% target for this year (electrive). Our explainer on the ZEV mandate covers what that gap means for carmakers. September was a record month for EVs, and the Model 3 and Model Y were first and second, ahead of the BYD Sealion 7, BYD Seal and Kia EV3. Our September market report has the full picture.
What this means for buyers
A strong or weak registration month does not change Tesla’s list prices on its own. In November 2026 the Model 3 lists from £37,990 (Carwow) and the Model Y from £44,990 (Carwow), and our October price check has the full range. If you are choosing between the two, our Model 3 vs Model Y comparison and which Tesla to buy guide set out the trade-offs. Check back after 9am on 5 November for the October figure and the updated share table.
How we test and where our numbers come from
Range figures are official WLTP combined values taken from manufacturer UK specification pages, with real-world estimates drawn from independent comparative testing. Prices are UK list prices at the time of the latest update. Tax, grant and charging-scheme figures come from GOV.UK and HMRC publications. We re-check every guide when pricing, specification or policy changes. Last checked 6 November 2026. How we work out our own figures.
Frequently asked questions
How many Teslas were sold in the UK in October 2026?
Tesla registered 282 new cars in the UK in October 2026, according to SMMT figures published on 5 November. That is down 44.8% from 511 in October 2025 and is the lowest monthly total of 2026.
What is Tesla's UK market share in 2026?
Tesla holds about 2.46% of UK new car registrations for January to October 2026, with 46,526 cars, on our calculation from SMMT totals. Of battery-electric cars alone, its share is about 9.2%.
Why are Tesla's UK sales so low in some months?
Tesla's UK registrations follow its quarterly delivery cycle, so the first month of each quarter is usually weak and the last month is strong. In 2026 it registered 512 cars in July and 15,875 in September.
What was Tesla's best UK month in 2026?
September 2026 was Tesla's best UK month of the year, with 15,875 registrations and 4.53% of the new car market. The Model 3 took 9,929 of those and was the UK's best-selling electric car that month.
When are Tesla's November 2026 UK sales published?
SMMT publishes November 2026 registrations at 9am on Friday 4 December 2026. December and full-year figures follow on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
Is Tesla gaining or losing UK market share?
Over the year Tesla is gaining: its 2026 registrations are up 31.2% to 46,526 and its share of battery-electric cars rose from about 9.7% in the first half to 10.9% in the third quarter. October's 282 cars is the usual first-month dip, so December is the real test of the fourth quarter.
Sources and further reading
- smmt.co.ukYear end push lifts EV sales but mandate gap set to widenOctober 2026 market of 152,730 new cars, with 48,858 battery-electric cars (32.0% share).
- electrek.coUK EV sales October 2026: electric cars overtake petrolTesla's weak October as the first month of a quarter.
- smmt.co.ukUK New Car Registration Data: Latest Figures and StatisticsTesla 282 in October 2026 against 511 a year earlier, and 46,526 year to date (up 31.2%). September 2026 market of 350,536 cars and 99,201 BEVs; Tesla 15,875 in September (4.53% share) against 7,993 (2.55%) a year earlier, and 46,244 year to date (2.66%).
- smmt.co.ukSMMT key press datesOctober 2026 registrations published at 09:00 on Thursday 5 November 2026; November data on Friday 4 December; December data on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
- smmt.co.ukHuge EV boost in July yet mandate gap persistsJuly 2026 market of 156,571 cars and 43,106 BEVs; year-to-July market of 1,294,499 and 327,683 BEVs, used to derive the first-half totals.
- smmt.co.ukEV market hits new high but target gap remainsJune 2026 market of 213,166 cars and 63,950 BEVs (30.0% share), with the Model Y top seller on 6,765 and the Model 3 second on 5,408.
- electrive.comUK posts strongest-ever month for BEV registrations in September454,945 BEVs year to September (26.2% share), the 33% 2026 mandate target, and the September top five: Model 3, Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, BYD Seal, Kia EV3.
- electrive.comEVs enjoy record uptake in the UK but still too slow to meet targets, warns SMMT28,063 BEVs registered in August 2026, a 29.8% share.
- carwow.co.ukBest-selling cars in August revealedAugust 2026 market of 94,236 cars; Model 3 on 1,296 and Model Y on 884, first and second among electric cars.
- bestsellingcarsblog.comUK July 2026: Jaecoo 5 breaks into Top 10, Renault 5 best-selling BEVTesla down 48.1% to 512 registrations and 35th place among brands in July 2026.
- evxl.coTesla posts its best June ever in the UK as electric cars take 30% of the marketTesla's 12,173 June 2026 registrations, its best June on record, and its 511 registrations in October 2025.
- ajbell.co.ukUK new car registrations up 0.5% on-year in October amid electric riseOctober 2025 market of 144,948 cars, with 36,830 BEVs (25.4% share).
- carwow.co.ukTesla Model Y review and pricesModel Y RRP from £44,990.
- carwow.co.ukTesla Model 3 review and pricesModel 3 RRP from £37,990.
EV Compared
The EV Compared editorial team tracks the UK electric vehicle market full time: new model launches, list prices, WLTP and real-world range, public charging tariffs and the tax rules that decide what an EV actually costs to run. Every guide is checked against manufacturer specifications and official GOV.UK figures, and updated whenever the numbers move.
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