BYD overtakes Tesla to become the biggest EV seller in the world
Published on Oct 06, 2025 at 4:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Keelin McNamara
Last updated on Oct 06, 2025 at 4:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Well, it’s official – BYD has officially overtaken Tesla to become the biggest EV seller in the world.
The Chinese brand has capped off an incredible 2025 by claiming the EV crown.
Both BYD and Tesla surpassed the one million mark in terms of units sold.
But the Chinese brand is leading by almost 400,000 EVs.
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BYD completes takeover of the EV world
Chinese giant BYD has stolen the crown previously held by Tesla.
The premier American EV brand previously dominated the global EV market almost unopposed.
But 2025 has witnessed one of the most remarkable shifts in the history of the car industry because brands from China have come storming out the blocks to take over the EV sector.
Brands such as Xpeng and Geely have been key players in leading the assault.
But BYD is storming ahead.
The figures, reported by CarNewsChina, make for some fascinating viewing.
Sales this year show the continued race between Tesla and BYD.
Up to Q3, Tesla shipped 1.218 million units worldwide.
That, in isolation, remains an extremely impressive figure, but the Chinese giant has beaten it – and by quite a considerable margin, too.
In the same timeframe, BYD shipped 1.606 million EVs – a gap of 388,000 vehicles.
Can Tesla take back the lead?
This continued dominance and growth begs the question – will Tesla ever be able to regain its crown?
Market research firm Counterpoint Research projects that BYD will end the year as the world’s leading EV manufacturer.
It further projects that it will command an estimated 15.7 percent market share.
This suggests that the rapid expansion and competitive pricing offered by BYD is something Tesla is struggling with.
But the American brand might not be completely down and out just yet.
It is clear that Tesla is showing signs of life – and it continues to resonate with a large, passionate fanbase.
The third quarter of 2025 has seen Tesla ship 497,100 vehicles.
That figure represents year-on-year growth of 7.4 percent.
It still pales in comparison to BYD, which recorded year-on-year growth of 31.4 percent for the same period.
Keelin McNamara is a content writer at Supercar Blondie from Ireland, covering cars, technology, and lifestyle. Despite being a Law graduate, he discovered his passion for journalism during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has worked in the industry ever since. Outside of work, he is an avid MotoGP fan, and is a self-confessed addict of the sport.
