BYD Surpasses Tesla as Top EV Seller in 2025

Chinese automaker BYD surpassed Tesla as the world's largest seller of battery-electric vehicles in 2025, delivering 2.25 million units globally, a 28 percent increase from the previous year. Tesla, the U.S.-based electric vehicle pioneer, reported 1.64 million deliveries for the year, marking a 9 percent decline from 1.79 million in 2024 and its second consecutive annual drop.

The shift occurred amid intensifying global competition and domestic challenges for Tesla. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Tesla delivered 418,227 vehicles, a 16 percent decrease from the prior year and below analyst expectations of around 440,000, according to data compiled by FactSet. Company officials attributed part of the slowdown to the expiration of U.S. federal tax credits on September 30, 2025, which had provided up to $7,500 for new electric vehicles and $4,000 for used ones. U.S. sales reflected the impact, falling nearly 23 percent year-over-year to 39,800 units in November, per Cox Automotive figures, even as the broader domestic EV market contracted by over 40 percent that month.

Analysts pointed to several factors contributing to Tesla's performance. Increased rivalry from Chinese...