BYD overtakes Tesla as the world’s largest EV manufacturer

In 2011, Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissed Chinese automaker BYD as a competitive threat. However, by 2025, BYD had overtaken Tesla to become the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, selling 2,254,714 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 2,288,709 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), totaling nearly 4.5 million vehicles. BYD's success was driven by its significantly lower pricing, with models like the BYD Qin L in China and the BYD Han in the US undercutting Tesla's offerings. Tesla's sales in 2025 were 1,636,129 units, a 9% decrease from the previous year, partly due to the removal of federal EV incentives in the US and a shift in focus towards Robotaxi development.