The Chinese corporation BYD is confidently approaching the point of officially displacing the American company Tesla from the position of the world’s largest electric vehicle seller by the end of 2025. As CNBC analysts note, this result will symbolize the company’s rapid growth—one that Elon Musk publicly mocked back in 2011 in an interview with Bloomberg, expressing skepticism about its prospects.
Both companies are preparing to publish their final annual results for 2025, but based on preliminary statistics, there is now little doubt that BYD will take the lead in terms of sales volume.
Sales and momentum: the numbers speak for themselves
According to an official statement from BYD, sales of battery-powered vehicles increased by nearly 28% and reached 2.26 million units in 2025. Tesla has not yet disclosed its final figures, but according to the company’s own estimates, deliveries will amount to around 1.6 million vehicles, which is approximately 8% lower than in 2024. This would mark the second consecutive year of declining sales for the American manufacturer.
This dynamic highlights intensifying competitive pressure, primarily from Chinese brands that are actively scaling production, expanding their model ranges, and offering more affordable electric vehicles.
Tesla between innovation and reputational risks
For Tesla, 2025 has been an eventful year. In the first quarter, the company’s shares fell sharply amid heightened competition and mixed market reactions to Elon Musk’s political statements. Despite this, in recent weeks the stock has rebounded and reached an all-time closing high of $489.88 per share.
Renewed investor interest was linked to Musk’s statements about testing autonomous vehicles in Austin, Texas. These tests involve vehicles operating without passengers and began nearly six months after the launch of a pilot project with safety drivers. Such developments remain a key element of Tesla’s long-term strategy, but in the short term they have yet to offset the decline in sales.
BYD: from batteries to global leadership
BYD is headquartered in Shenzhen and began its operations in 1995 as a battery manufacturer. Over time, the company has transformed into a diversified industrial conglomerate covering electric vehicles, batteries, solar energy, and energy storage systems. This diversification has enabled BYD to grow steadily even amid global economic instability.
In 2024, the company’s revenue amounted to $107 billion, representing a 29% increase compared to 2023. Net profit reached $5.5 billion, showing year-on-year growth of 34%. These financial results provided a solid foundation for BYD’s expansion into the markets of Europe, the Middle East, and other regions.
What this means for the electric vehicle market
BYD’s expected leadership in 2025 reflects a broader trend: the center of gravity of the global electric vehicle market is gradually shifting toward Asia. Chinese manufacturers benefit from scale, government support, and control over battery supply chains. For Tesla and other Western brands, this means the need to accelerate innovation, reassess pricing strategies, and strengthen their positions beyond traditional markets.
As a result, 2025 may go down in history as the moment when the global electric vehicle market definitively ceased to be unipolar, with competition between BYD and Tesla becoming a symbol of a new era in the automotive industry.
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Photos: pixabay.com, DOM
