China’s BYD has overtaken Elon Musk’s Tesla to become the world’s leading electric vehicle seller in 2025, with BYD recording 4.6 million new energy vehicle sales globally amid cooling growth rates for both companies.
BYD Surpasses Tesla as World’s Top Electric Vehicle , the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, surpassed Tesla in global sales for 2025, achieving 4.6 million new energy vehicle sales worldwide, according to reporting from TipRanks, while Mothership.sg noted BYD’s seller ahead of Elon Musk’s Tesla.
BYD Achieves Sales Milestone Over Tesla
BYD recorded global sales of 4.6 million new energy vehicles in 2025, marking a 7.73 per cent increase from the previous year, as reported by TipRanks. This figure positioned BYD ahead of Tesla, with Mothership.sg stating that BYD set to overtake Elon Musk’s Tesla as the world’s top electric vehicle seller in 2025. The sales growth for BYD represented its weakest expansion in five years, according to TipRanks, even as it claimed the leading spot in the global market.
As reported by Perplexity Staff for Perplexity News, TipRanks detailed BYD’s 4.6 million vehicle sales, highlighting the slowdown from prior years’ more robust increases.
Market Context and Company Trajectories
The shift sees BYD emerging from China’s competitive automotive sector to lead global electric vehicle sales, while Tesla faces a reported slump, as covered by TipRanks. Mothership.sg emphasised BYD’s rise against Tesla, underscoring the intensifying rivalry between Chinese manufacturers and established players like Elon Musk’s firm. Both outlets pointed to 2025 as a pivotal year where BYD’s volume edged out Tesla’s, reflecting broader trends in the electric vehicle industry.
Sales Figures and Growth Trends
TipRanks reported BYD’s 4.6 million new energy vehicle sales for 2025, a 7.73 per cent rise that nonetheless signalled decelerating momentum compared to previous annual gains. Mothership.sg separately noted a 28 per cent rise in BYD’s global electric vehicle sales for the year, aligning with its overtake of Tesla, though specific Tesla figures remained unstated in these accounts. These developments occurred amid China’s dominant role in electric vehicle production and exports.
Implications for Global Electric Vehicle Competition
BYD’s sales leadership in 2025 braces Tesla for continued challenges, with TipRanks indicating a slump for the American company as Chinese growth cools but sustains its top position. Mothership.sg framed the overtake as a key 2025 event, suggesting sustained pressure on Tesla from BYD’s expanding global footprint. No specific next steps from either company were detailed in the reports, though the sales data underscores shifting market dynamics.
BYD’s 4.6 million new energy vehicle sales in 2025 secured its place as the world’s top electric vehicle seller, surpassing Tesla, according to TipRanks and Mothership.sg.
