BYD vs. Tesla: 2025 Electric Vehicle Production & Sales

Yes, BYD has surpassed Tesla in pure electric vehicle (BEV) production and sales for the 2025 calendar year. This marks the first full year BYD has taken the top spot from Tesla, which had been the leader for years.

2025 Annual Performance & Market Position

🏆 BYD (2025)

Pure Electric (BEV) Sales 2.26 million

Total Vehicle Sales (BEV + PHEV) 4.55 million

Key Market Global leader; Strong growth in Europe

Current Position World's largest EV manufacturer

🔋 Tesla (2025)

Pure Electric (BEV) Sales 1.64 million

Total Vehicle Sales (BEV + PHEV) 1.64 million (BEV only)

Key Market Global; Facing challenges in core markets

Current Position Previously the world's largest

🔍 Key Factors Behind the Shift

The change in leadership results from a combination of different trajectories for the two companies in 2025:

BYD's Global Growth

BYD achieved a 27.9% year-on-year increase in BEV sales.

A major driver was its overseas success, with exports surging by 150.7% to over 1 million vehicles.

Despite a challenging market in China, BYD's global expansion, including new factories in places like Hungary, helped secure the top spot.

Tesla's Sales Decline

Tesla's annual sales fell by approximately 9% in 2025.

Political and Brand Factors: Elon Musk's political activities and alignment with the Trump administration are cited as having alienated some customers and negatively impacted the brand. A Yale University study suggested this could have significantly reduced Tesla's sales potential.

Policy Changes: The withdrawal of U.S. federal EV subsidies under the Trump administration hurt demand.

Product Transition: Tesla's production was affected by the ramp-down of the old Model Y and the ramp-up of its successor, making the popular model unavailable for months.

📊 A Look at the Broader Picture

Defining the "Largest": When comparing, the term "largest EV maker" typically refers only to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). If you include Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) in the count, BYD has been the overall "New Energy Vehicle" leader for several years due to its strong hybrid lineup.

Profit vs. Volume: Despite selling fewer cars, Tesla has historically been the far more profitable company. A comment on one industry report notes that Tesla still makes the vast majority of global EV profits, which funds its other ventures like energy storage and robotics.

Looking Ahead: For 2026, BYD aims to sell 1.6 million vehicles outside China, while Tesla's sales are forecast to recover slightly to around 1.75 million. However, analysts widely expect the intense competition between these two, and with other global automakers, to continue.

Data reflects 2025 calendar year production and sales figures. The comparison focuses on Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) volumes for the "world's largest EV maker" title.