The Crown Shifts: BYD Overtakes Tesla as World's Top EV Maker in 2025

The stats don't lie: Tesla's reign is officially over. For the first time on an annual basis, China’s BYD has seized the title of the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer. In 2025, the gap between the two giants became a chasm that Elon Musk couldn't close with promises alone.

BYD vs Tesla EV Sales 2025: A Tale of Two Trajectories

BYD’s seemingly unstoppable rise saw its pure EV sales jump 28 percent last year to 2.25 million units. In stark contrast, Tesla announced it delivered only 1.64 million vehicles in 2025—marking its second annual decline in a row. The fourth quarter was particularly brutal for the Austin-based company, seeing a 16 percent year-over-year decline.

• BYD global 'new energy vehicle' sales: 4.6 million units
• BYD passenger vehicle exports: Up 145% year-on-year
• Cybertruck estimated sales: Less than 50,000 units (vs 250,000 goal)

It was a disastrous year for Tesla. The crucial Model Y refresh bombed, and the much-hyped Cybertruck struggled with recalls and low demand. Rumors even surfaced that SpaceX stepped in to buy tens of millions of dollars worth of unsold Cybertrucks to bolster Tesla's Q4 financials. Meanwhile, BYD was breaking records, pushing its Yangwang U9 hypercar to a top speed of 308.4 mph in Germany.

The Pivot to AI and Robotics

As car sales stall, Musk is betting the company's future on robotaxis and the Optimus humanoid robot. However, these ventures face skepticism; reports continue to emerge of robots being remotely operated during demonstrations. Tesla's autonomous tech remains significantly behind Waymo in the emerging market, leaving the brand's next incarnation in a precarious state.