Byd overtakes Tesla as world's top electric vehicle seller

Thursday 01 January 2026 - 15:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Byd overtakes Tesla as world's top electric vehicle seller

Chinese automaker BYD has surpassed Tesla to claim the title of the world's leading electric vehicle manufacturer in 2025, delivering 2.26 million battery electric vehicles compared to Tesla's projected 1.64 million units for the year, based on company documents released Thursday. This milestone represents the first time the Shenzhen-based firm has seized the annual EV sales crown, reversing last year's outcome where Tesla edged ahead with 1.79 million deliveries against BYD's 1.76 million.

The shift in leadership comes as BYD rides a wave of explosive international growth while Tesla grapples with mounting challenges. BYD's overseas sales soared 150.7% to 1,046,083 units in 2025, fueled by robust demand in markets like Brazil, Turkey, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, and China, where it now leads EV sales on 11 key markets.

BYD's triumphs abroad contrast sharply with headwinds at home, where domestic sales growth slowed to 7.73% the weakest pace in five years. December sales plunged 18.3% year-over-year, extending a four-month decline amid fierce competition from rivals like Geely and Leapmotor in the budget segment. BYD President Wang Chuanfu acknowledged during a December investor conference that the company's technological edge had narrowed, impacting national performance.

To offset weakness in its core market, BYD aggressively expanded globally, with exports now accounting for about 23% of total deliveries, up from less than 10% in 2024. The firm aims to sell 1.5 to 1.6 million vehicles overseas in 2026, according to a Citigroup report citing BYD management.

Tesla's downturn stems from a mix of political controversies surrounding CEO Elon Musk and policy shifts. Musk's role in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, along with public spats with President Trump, sparked widespread protests and boycotts, tarnishing the brand among eco-conscious buyers. The end of the U.S. federal $7,500 EV tax credit on September 30, 2025, further dampened demand as buyers rushed purchases beforehand.

Tesla's full-year 2025 deliveries are expected to total 1,640,752 vehicles, down 8.3% from 2024 and marking a second straight year of declines. The company shipped 336,681 units in the first quarter, 384,122 in the second, a record 497,099 in the third, and an anticipated 422,850 in the fourth.