Chinese carmaker BYD has become the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles in 2025, overtaking Tesla for the first time. This marks a major change in the global electric vehicle market.
According to reported figures, BYD delivered around 2.26 million electric vehicles during the year. This shows a strong growth of nearly 28 percent compared to the previous year, highlighting the company’s rapid expansion and rising global demand for its cars.
In comparison, Tesla delivered about 1.64 million vehicles in 2025. This represents an 8 percent decline from the previous year and is the company’s second year in a row to see a drop in annual deliveries. These numbers indicate that Tesla is facing increasing pressure in a market that has become far more competitive than before.
BYD’s success is largely driven by its strong position in the Chinese market, which remains the world’s largest EV market.
In addition, the company has expanded aggressively into international markets, offering a wide range of electric and hybrid vehicles at competitive prices. Its focus on affordability, local production, and technology has helped it attract more customers globally.
Tesla, on the other hand, faced several challenges during the year. These included growing competition from Chinese and global automakers, political controversies linked to its leadership, and the gradual removal of the US electric vehicle tax credit, which reduced incentives for buyers.
BYD overtaking Tesla is seen as a historic moment for the electric vehicle industry. It reflects a shift in global leadership and shows how Chinese automakers are playing a bigger role in shaping the future of electric mobility worldwide.
