The Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling car in the UK last month, as new car sales dropped 97% as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Autocar, data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that 658 Model 3s were sold in April, representing about 15% of all new car sales. Due to the closure of dealerships and compliance with the nationwide directive to stay at home, only 4,321 new cars were sold in April, compared with 161,064 for the same period last year.

Model 3 topped a list of the Top-10 best-selling cars in April, while traditionally the largest sellers in the UK were largely absent. The list featured both electric cars such as the Model 3 and Jaguar I-Pace, and MPVs including the Ford Tourneo Custom and Peugeot Rifter.

Source: SMMT

This is the second time Model 3 has appeared in the Top-10 of the UK, it has been a strong seller here since its arrival in early 2019. In February 2019, it became Europe's best-selling electric car in the first full month of sales outside the U.S.

Relatively high sales of the Model 3 may be related to online pre-orders made on the Tesla website prior to lock down. As a result of recent changes to the UK vehicle excise tax system, EV vehicles are exempted from in-kind benefits tax, making them more attractive to customers.

SMMT expects electric cars to show relatively high performance in 2020, which will increase the overall recession in the industry, doubling their market share by the end of the year.

Featured image: Autotrader