British motorists can now lease a Tesla electric vehicle for just over half of what they would have paid a year ago, The Times reported on Monday, citing industry sources.

Tesla has been forced to offer discounts of up to 40% to car leasing companies to shift more units, the report said.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Tesla's July sales in the UK fell about 60% to 987 units in July, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

British new car registrations overall fell about 5% year-on-year in July, according to the SMMT.

Battery electric vehicles are now projected to account for 23.8% of new registrations in 2025, slightly up from SMMT's previous forecast of 23.5%.