TMTPOST -- Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD has outsold Tesla in  Britain for the first time, as shifting public sentiment against Elon Musk coincides with declining Tesla sales.

BYD sold 1,614 passenger cars in Britain last month, surpassing Tesla’s 1,458 sales, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The figures mark a staggering 500% year-over-year increase for BYD.

Tesla's sales in Britain saw a nearly 12% decline in January, and faced even steeper drops in several other European markets, with sales in France, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands falling by 63%, 44%, 38%, and 42% respectively.

The shift shows growing competition in the EV market, with BYD—already the world’s largest EV maker—continuing its aggressive global expansion.

Tesla’s Britain slump comes amid growing public backlash against Musk’s political activities. The billionaire CEO has increasingly inserted himself into European politics, vocally supporting right-wing parties such as Reform Britain and Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Musk’s political stance may be impacting Tesla’s brand perception. In Germany, Tesla’s sales plummeted 59% in January, according to newly released figures.

Despite Tesla’s struggles, the Britain EV market grew by 42% year-over-year, with total EV sales rising from 20,935 to 29,634 vehicles. EVs now account for 21.3% of new car sales, up from 14.7% a year ago.

While EV adoption continues to rise, Britain’s overall auto market shrunk by 2.5% in January, marking the fourth consecutive month of decline. The SMMT attributed this to weak consumer confidence and tough economic conditions.

Sales of petrol cars fell 15% to 70,075 units, while diesel car sales declined 8% to 8,625 units.

Meanwhile, automakers are aggressively cutting EV prices to comply with the British government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires an increasing percentage of new car sales to be electric. The target stands at 22% for 2024 and will rise annually to 80% by 2030.

However, the SMMT warned that demand may not be strong enough to meet this year’s ZEV target. Further challenges loom, as upcoming tax increases for EV drivers in April could slow adoption even further.