BYD Strengthens Leadership Over Tesla in Sales

In 2025, Chinese company BYD consolidated its position as the automotive firm with the highest sales volume of electric vehicles worldwide, ahead of Tesla, which saw its delivery figures fall for the second consecutive year.

According to the US company's latest sales report, 1.63 million vehicles were delivered last year, representing a decline of 8.6% compared to 2024.

In contrast, BYD sold 4.55 million units in 2025 between hybrid (or new energy NEV) and 100% electric vehicles, a volume that exceeds the 4.25 million of the previous year by 7.1%.

Of that figure, 2.25 million belong to the battery electric vehicle (BEV) category, a result 28% above total sales in 2024.

With these figures, BYD's zero-emission units accounted for 49.6% of its total sales in 2025, representing a jump from 41.5% in the previous period.

Sales growth in new markets, particularly in Europe, was a key factor in the Chinese automaker's expansion, which revealed that for the first time its overseas sales exceeded one million units (1.046 million vehicles), a volume that exceeded the 2024 figure by 151%.

According to experts consulted by Bloomberg, Tesla lost market share in this niche partly due to the political rhetoric of its CEO, Elon Musk, which motivated some consumers to consider both Asian and European options.