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BYD Dethrones Tesla as World's Top EV Seller in Historic 2025 Shift

Chinese automaker BYD has overtaken Tesla to become the world's largest seller of electric vehicles for the full year 2025. This historic shift comes as Tesla reported its first-ever annual decline in deliveries, falling 8.6% to 1.63 million units, while BYD's total deliveries grew 7.7% to 4.6 million vehicles. Industry analysts attribute Chinese EV makers' success to massive R&D investment, rapid technological advancement, and a complete, competitive industrial supply chain rooted in China's manufacturing base. The growth is expected to continue as Chinese manufacturers expand their supply chains and industrial ecosystems, solidifying their competitive position globally.

Key Points: BYD Overtakes Tesla as World's Largest EV Seller in 2025

  • BYD delivered 4.6M vehicles in 2025
  • Tesla deliveries fell 8.6% to 1.63M
  • BYD's EV sales jumped 28% to 2.25M units
  • China's integrated supply chain key to growth
2 min read

BYD overtakes Tesla as world's largest EV seller in 2025

Chinese automaker BYD surpasses Tesla in 2025 EV sales. Tesla deliveries fall 8.6% as BYD surges, marking a major power shift in the global electric vehicle market.

"continue to invest in R&D, rapidly advance their technologies, and build a complete industrial chain - Cui Dongshu, CPCA"

New Delhi, January 3

Chinese automaker BYD surpassed Tesla in full-year electric vehicle sales for the first time in 2025, securing its position as the world's largest electric vehicle seller, according to a Global Times report.

The shift in market leadership follows a year where the American manufacturer recorded its first-ever decline in annual deliveries while its Chinese competitor reported significant growth in its electric segment.

According to the report, Tesla delivered 1.63 million units in 2025, representing an 8.6 per cent year-on-year decrease. This performance marked a significant turn for the manufacturer, which previously dominated the global market.

Tesla also reported a 6.7 per cent decline in annual production, which fell to 1.73 million units from the levels recorded in 2024. The company now faces intense competition from rivals such as Hyundai and BYD.

"Tesla's data came just a day after Chinese EV maker BYD released its annual report for 2025 in which it revealed that the company delivered 4.6 million vehicles in 2025, up 7.7 percent from 2024. Of the total, EV sales rose 28 percent to 2.25 million units," the report said.

Chinese new-energy vehicle makers were becoming more competitive in production and supply chains. Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, told the Global Times on Saturday that these manufacturers "continue to invest in R&D, rapidly advance their technologies, build a complete industrial chain based on China's advanced manufacturing base, and benefit from a well-established domestic market, infrastructure and policy measures that support the industry growth."

The report noted that even Tesla required its gigafactory in China to secure its delivery targets. The growth of Chinese manufacturers remains supported by an expanding industrial chain and integrated manufacturing bases.

"Looking ahead, Chinese EV makers are expected to continue maintaining their competitive position in deliveries as their supply chains and industrial chain expand," the report quoted an industry analyst.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Wow, 2.25 million EVs from BYD alone! That's incredible growth. Meanwhile, we're still debating FAME subsidies and charging infrastructure. Hope this news lights a fire under our policy makers. We have the talent, we need the execution. 🇮🇳
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Rohit P
A bit of healthy competition is good for everyone. Tesla got complacent. But let's be honest, a lot of BYD's success is built on state support and a protected home market. The real test is global acceptance beyond China. Their cars need to win trust on quality, not just price.
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Sarah B
Interesting data point. Tesla's decline is surprising. As someone looking to buy an EV next year in Bangalore, this makes me consider looking at more options. Competition drives innovation and better prices for us consumers. Hoping Tata and MG have some strong responses.
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Vikram M
The key takeaway is in the last paragraph. Even Tesla needs its China factory to meet targets. It's all about the supply chain. India has a massive opportunity to become that alternative manufacturing hub for the world. "Make in India" for EVs needs to be supercharged, pun intended! 🔋
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Karthik V
Respectfully, I think the article glosses over some issues. The Global Times is a Chinese state media outlet. While the numbers might be correct, the narrative is very pro-China. We should wait for independent audits. Tesla's innovation cycle is different; they might be preparing for a next-gen platform.

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