Elon Musk-owned Tesla has stooped low and lost its position as the world’s top electric vehicle (EV) producer. Want to know who beat Tesla? None other than BYD, which has been a serious rival for Tesla for the past few years. Now it has finally taken over Tesla’s best-selling position.
The Shenzhen-based company BYD reported a surge, jumping 28 per cent to 2.26 million in 2025. On the contrary, Tesla has recorded sales of 1.64 million units, an 8.5 per cent decline in 2025.
BYD didn’t win this position alone; it owes the surge to a variety of products, ranging from $200,000 supercars to the $7,800 seagull hatchback. It also includes the contribution of technology innovation involving five-minute EV charging and a free autonomous driving feature.
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The major driver of the company’s growth was its significant international expansion, with plans to open 1,000 new shops in Europe after outshining Tesla for the first time in 2025. The company was once backed by Warren Buffett and shipped 4.6 million vehicles in 2024. When plug-in hybrids are included, Tesla does not compete in this segment. After 2018, Tesla has never lost its crown as the top EV seller.
