BYD sells more than twice as many electric cars as Tesla, cementing China’s progress

BYD is shifting the balance of power in the global automotive industry. The Chinese automaker recorded approximately 4.19 million electric vehicle sales in 2025, compared with 1.64 million for Tesla, according to data compiled in Statista’s Automotive Trends 2026 report. The comparison includes both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids for BYD, while Tesla exclusively sells fully electric vehicles, an important methodological distinction. Even so, the figures reveal a broader trend: Chinese companies now account for a growing share of the global electric vehicle market.

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The gap is also evident in market share. BYD accounted for 22% of global electric vehicle sales in 2025, followed by Geely-Volvo with 11%. Tesla held an 8% share, while Volkswagen and China’s SAIC each reached 7%.

This means BYD holds a market share 2.75 times larger than Tesla’s in the market analyzed by Statista.

A comparison limited exclusively to fully electric vehicles narrows the gap but still puts BYD ahead: the Chinese company sold 2.26 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in 2025, up 28% from the previous year, while Tesla delivered approximately 1.64 million, representing a decline of nearly 10%.

BYD sells 4.19 million electric vehicles

The ranking presented in Automotive Trends 2026 illustrates how quickly Chinese automakers have gained ground.

BYD ranks first with 4,193,848 units in 2025. Tesla recorded 1,635,997 units, while Geely reached 1,268,996 and Wuling totaled 814,838. Further down the ranking are BMW, Volkswagen, Li Auto, Leapmotor, AITO, and XPeng.

Statista particularly highlights the growth of Leapmotor, XPeng, AITO, and Xiaomi, companies that are beginning to climb the rankings in a market where Tesla was the undisputed benchmark for years.

Xiaomi’s rise is especially noteworthy. The company, internationally known for its smartphones and consumer electronics, managed to position the SU7 among the world’s best-selling electric vehicles.

Tesla loses its leadership in fully electric vehicles

A direct comparison between Tesla and BYD requires distinguishing fully electric vehicles from plug-in hybrids. BYD sells both technologies. Tesla, by contrast, exclusively sells battery electric vehicles.

When only the latter are considered, BYD sold approximately 2.26 million fully electric cars in 2025, compared with Tesla’s 1.64 million. The difference exceeded 600,000 units.

Statista reports that BYD’s battery electric vehicle sales grew 28% during the year, while Tesla’s deliveries declined by nearly 10%.

The result made 2025 a turning point. Tesla had maintained its position as the annual sales leader in fully electric cars for years, but BYD managed to overtake the company.

Competition is not slowing down: BYD continued to outsell Tesla in global electric vehicle sales during the first half of 2026, although it faces increasing competitive pressure within China.

Tesla Model Y remains the world’s best-selling electric vehicle

Tesla, however, maintains a significant advantage at the individual model level.

The Tesla Model Y was the world’s best-selling electric car in 2025, with approximately 1.07 million units sold.

The BYD Song/Seal U ranked second with nearly 588,000 units, while the Tesla Model 3 reached approximately 518,000 units.

Beyond those models, Chinese dominance becomes much more evident.

The Geely Xingyuan/EX2 recorded approximately 468,000 units, while the BYD Seagull/Dolphin Mini/Surf reached around 445,000. Vehicles from Wuling and other BYD models also appear among the best sellers.

The Xiaomi SU7 reached approximately 258,000 units, a significant figure for a company that only recently entered the automotive business.

BYD also has an advantage over Tesla: a much broader product portfolio covering different price ranges and vehicle categories.

China dominates not only electric vehicles but also batteries

China’s competitive advantage extends beyond vehicle sales. The country has become a central player in the battery supply chain, one of the most expensive and strategically important components of an electric car.

CATL is the leading manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries and works with companies such as Geely, Volkswagen, and Tesla itself. BYD also occupies a crucial position thanks to its vertical integration: it manufactures batteries for its own vehicles and supplies automakers such as Xiaomi and XPeng.

The global battery market is also expected to continue growing. Statista projects that it will expand from approximately 2,000 GWh in 2025 to around 6,800 GWh by 2035, more than three times its current level.

This places Asian manufacturers in a strategic position as demand for electric vehicles increases.

China has another advantage: Its consumers

Chinese automakers also operate in the market with the highest electric vehicle penetration.

More than one in five new vehicles sold worldwide in 2025 was electric, but China is already well above that global average.

More than half of all new vehicle sales in the country were electric, a proportion that Statista projects will exceed 70% by 2030. Europe reached approximately 24%, while North America continues to lag behind.

Purchase intentions reinforce this difference. 46% of Chinese consumers are considering buying an electric car, compared with 38% in India, 31% in the United Kingdom, 27% in Germany, and 19% in the United States.

Mexico is considerably further behind, with only 14% of consumers considering purchasing one.

BYD is just one part of China’s automotive expansion

BYD’s growth could be interpreted as an individual battle against Tesla, but Statista’s data points to a much broader transformation.

BYD, Geely-Volvo, and SAIC together account for 40% of the global electric vehicle market, according to the market shares included in the report. They are joined by manufacturers such as Wuling, Leapmotor, XPeng, AITO, and Xiaomi.

China is also home to CATL and BYD in the battery industry and has a vast domestic market that allows companies to achieve scale before accelerating their international expansion.

Tesla remains one of the most important brands in the electric vehicle industry, and the Model Y continues to lead among individual models. However, the American company is no longer competing against just one rival.