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The Tesla Model 3 became the UK's best-selling car in May, the second months in a row.

Total car sales in May fell 89% from the same month a year ago, according to data released Thursday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Sales fell 51% in the first five months of 2020, and in April there was the largest drop since World War II.

In May, British drivers bought 20,247 cars, 852 of which were Tesla Model 3. This makes it the best-selling car of any type.

Source: SMMT

Tesla's strong performance is partly due to its online sales model, which means that it is less dependent than competitors in physical dealerships. Most showrooms have been closed since March due to the coronavirus lockdown.

“These [May] figures are exceptional and it's not exaggerating to suggest it is unlikely we'll see monthly new car sales as low as these again in our lifetime,” said Alex Buttle, director of car selling comparison website Motorway.co.uk. Of course, as soon as the economy begins to recover, all car sales will increase. But the trend that we can observe recently all over the world shows that sales of electric vehicles are growing.

In May 2020, the share of the electric car market in the UK was 16%, and the total share in 2020 is now 7.2%, which is almost three times higher than the 2019 result.

The UK auto market has declined 89% year on year, but car dealerships are currently opening up for business, promising better results in the future.

Governments are encouraging citizens to buy environmentally friendly vehicles by offering subsidies to buy and expanding the network of charging stations, such as the German government.

Germany Government Forces All Gas Stations To Provide EV Charging https://t.co/YZeRGIP1aA

— Tesmanian.com (@Tesmanian_com) June 4, 2020

But, unlike other European countries, the British government has not yet issued any incentives to increase the overall automotive industry or electric vehicles, which additionally emphasizes the strength of Tesla. At the moment, discussions are underway in the country on possible incentives for the purchase of EVs, and if this policy is approved, Tesla will feel very high demand from residents of the UK.