BYD surpasses Tesla as the world’s top EV seller with a 28% sales increase. Discover the latest in the electric vehicle market and learn more!
The Chinese automotive giant, BYD, has officially dethroned Tesla as the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) seller for 2025. This milestone marks a remarkable ascent for BYD, a company once dismissed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a 2011 Bloomberg interview.
BYD’s Surge in EV Sales
In a statement released on January 1st, BYD announced a nearly 28% increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales, reaching 2.26 million units. This impressive growth positions BYD as a major force in the rapidly evolving EV landscape.
Tesla’s Sales Decline
Tesla, on the other hand, reported delivering 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, aligning with projections of 1.6 million. This figure represents an approximately 8% decrease compared to 2024, marking the American EV pioneer’s second consecutive year of decline.
Fourth-quarter deliveries were down around 16% year-over-year, with Musk’s company reporting 495,570 vehicles delivered.
A Year of Challenges for Tesla
Tesla experienced a turbulent year. The company’s stock saw a significant drop in the first quarter of 2025 due to intensifying competition, particularly from Chinese EV manufacturers, and reputational damage stemming from Musk’s controversial political statements.
Positive Developments for Tesla
However, Tesla’s stock has rebounded in recent weeks, reaching a record high of $489.88 last month, following Musk’s announcement of successful autonomous vehicle testing in Austin, Texas, without a safety driver – nearly six months after launching a pilot program with safety drivers present.
Energy Storage Gains
On a positive note, the automaker revealed a bright spot: a record deployment of 14.2 GWh of energy storage products in the fourth quarter. This brought the total energy storage product deployment for the year to 46.7 GWh, a substantial increase from the 31.4 GWh deployed in 2024.
BYD’s Total Vehicle Sales
Including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and buses, BYD achieved combined sales of 4,537,356 vehicles in 2025. This demonstrates the company’s broad appeal across various vehicle segments.
(Source: CNBC)