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There's a complex situation regarding Tesla sales in the UK, with some key points to consider:
Increased Second-Hand Sales:There's a significant rise in second-hand Tesla listings, indicating that many British Tesla owners are selling their vehicles. Data from sources like Gumtree shows a substantial increase in these listings.
Influence of Elon Musk: A significant factor influencing consumer decisions appears to be Elon Musk's public persona and actions. Research indicates that many potential buyers are being put off by his behavior and political stances.There are reports that some are moving to purchase Chinese made electric vehicles, instead of a Tesla.
Broader EV Market Trends:It's important to note that the increase in second-hand sales isn't limited to Tesla. Other electric vehicle brands, like MG, are also experiencing a surge in used car listings.
In summary, while Tesla vehicles are present in the UK second hand market, Elon Musk's actions and public perception are having a negative effect on new sales.Gumtree data shows a 128% increase in listings for the brand in the last year, second only to the Chinese-owned MG. Some industry analysts believe Tesla CEO Elon Musk's new post in the White House may have an influence on automobile sales. The boost in sales of electric vehicles was only surpassed by MG, which saw a remarkable 503% increase in listings compared to last January. Ford automobiles were the most popular on the platform overall, with about 27,000 listings.The biggest percentage increase of all items was the sale of Sym scooters, rising a staggering 1,039% between January 2024 and 2025.Interestingly, freebies on the site were down 34%, seemingly with users keener to sell for cash than get rid for nothing, though 13,000 free listings were still live.
A spokesperson from Gumtree said: “We always find it interesting to see what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to our listings.
“Vehicles are often very popular so it’s fascinating to see the trends and tastes change.In other Musk news, more than 20 civil service employees resigned on Tuesday from the billionaire Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), saying they were refusing to use their technical expertise to “dismantle critical public services”.
We swore to serve the American people and uphold our oath to the Constitution across presidential administrations,” the 21 staff members wrote in a joint resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.The employees also warned that many of those enlisted by Mr Musk to help him slash the size of the federal government under President Donald Trump’s administration were political ideologues who did not have the necessary skills or experience for the task ahead of them.
The mass resignation of engineers, data scientists and product managers is a temporary setback for Mr Musk and the Republican president’s tech-driven purge of the federal workforce.
It comes amid a flurry of court challenges that have sought to stall, stop or unwind their efforts to fire or coerce thousands of government workers out of jobs.
In a statement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Anyone who thinks protests, lawsuits and lawfare will deter President Trump must have been sleeping under a rock for the past several years.
“President Trump will not be deterred from delivering on the promises he made to make our federal government more efficient and more accountable to the hardworking American taxpayers.”
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