For the first time in history, China’s BYD has officially outpaced Tesla in annual sales, securing its position as the top manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs) globally.
Data released for the 2025 fiscal year, seen by Okay News, shows that BYD delivered more than 2.25 million battery-powered cars, marking a significant 28% increase. In contrast, analysts estimate that Tesla’s total sales for the same period reached approximately 1.65 million units.
Tesla’s performance was impacted by a challenging year characterized by intensifying competition and public debate surrounding Elon Musk’s political engagements. While the American firm attempted to bolster demand by lowering prices on its most popular models, it struggled to match the aggressive pricing and rapid production cycles maintained by Chinese rivals such as BYD, Geely, and MG.
Despite facing international trade tariffs, BYD has successfully expanded its presence in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Notably, the United Kingdom has become the company’s largest market outside of China, following a massive surge in demand for its hybrid and electric SUV models.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk has pledged to scale back his responsibilities within the United States government’s Department of Government Efficiency to refocus on Tesla’s ambitious long-term targets, which include the mass production of humanoid robots and self-driving taxis.
