The global electric vehicle (EV) market has witnessed a major shift in leadership. After years of dominance, Tesla has been overtaken by Chinese automaker BYD, which now holds the top position in global EV sales.
According to figures reported by CarNewsChina, cumulative sales up to the third quarter of 2025 show BYD leading Tesla by nearly 400,000 units. BYD delivered approximately 1.606 million vehicles, while Tesla recorded 1.218 million deliveries. Both companies managed to surpass the milestone of one million global sales, but BYD secured its leadership with a significant margin of 388,000 vehicles.
Market research firm Counterpoint Research projects that BYD will close 2025 as the global leader in electric vehicle sales, holding an estimated 15.7% market share.
Market research firm Counterpoint Research further reinforces BYD’s momentum, projecting that the Chinese brand will close the year as the world’s leading EV manufacturer, commanding an estimated 15.7% market share. This outlook suggests that Tesla’s path to regaining its former dominance may be challenging, particularly given the rapid expansion and competitive pricing strategies adopted by BYD.
Tesla, however, is not stagnant. Despite the growing gap, the company has shown signs of recovery and continues to resonate with a large base of global consumers. In the third quarter of 2025, Tesla delivered around 497,100 vehicles, marking a 7.4% year-over-year growth. While positive, this growth pales in comparison to BYD’s performance during the same period. BYD registered 582,500 deliveries, representing a 31.4% annual increase.
The turning point in this rivalry can be traced back to the fourth quarter of 2024, when BYD first surpassed Tesla in global EV sales. Since then, BYD has managed to hold onto the top spot for four consecutive quarters, highlighting its consistent growth strategy and the strength of China’s domestic EV industry.
BYD’s success is attributed not only to strong domestic demand but also to its increasingly aggressive expansion into international markets. The company has been scaling production, diversifying its EV portfolio, and maintaining competitive pricing, making its vehicles attractive to a broad range of consumers. Tesla, meanwhile, has focused on technological innovation and software integration but is struggling to keep pace with BYD’s rapid production and sales momentum.
Filed in . Read more about Electric Cars and Tesla.
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