BYD overtakes Tesla as world's biggest electric vehicle seller

Chinese automaker BYD has surpassed Tesla to become the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) seller in 2025, with sales rising nearly 28 percent to 2.26 million units. In contrast, Tesla reported global deliveries of 1.64 million vehicles, marking an 8 percent decline from 2024 and its second consecutive year of falling deliveries. BYD’s growth is attributed to its vertically integrated strategy, including in-house battery production, aggressive pricing, a broad product lineup, and strong domestic demand in China, alongside expanding its presence internationally. Tesla’s challenges in 2025 included a 16 percent drop in fourth-quarter deliveries compared to the previous year and increased competition from Chinese EV manufacturers. Despite a volatile year marked by slowing demand, intensified price competition, and reputational issues linked to CEO Elon Musk’s political rhetoric, Tesla’s stock rebounded sharply following announcements about testing fully driverless vehicles. The shift in leadership highlights the importance of scale, cost control, and market execution