BYD dethrones Tesla as world’s top BEV seller for two consecutive quarters

BYD has secured its position as the world’s top electric vehicle manufacturer for the second consecutive quarter, confirming a dramatic shift in the global EV landscape that analysts now project will extend through 2025. 

According to newly released sales figures and Counterpoint Research forecasts, BYD’s aggressive expansion strategy and technological innovations have successfully challenged Tesla’s long-held dominance.

The Chinese automaker delivered 416,388 passenger BEVs in Q1 2025, outpacing Tesla’s 336,681 units for the same period. 

This follows BYD’s Q4 2024 breakthrough, when it delivered 595,413 BEVs compared to Tesla’s 495,570.

(Tesla China export ceremony in 2020. Credit: Tesla)

BYD’s quarterly pure electric vehicle sales surpassed Tesla’s for the first time in Q4 2023, with 595,413 sales compared to Tesla’s 484,507 deliveries. 

However, this trend reversed in the next quarter, with Tesla slightly outperforming BYD in full-year sales. 

BYD’s BEV sales reached 1,764,992 in 2024, while Tesla’s sales totaled 1,789,226.

“BYD is projected to overtake Tesla for the first time as the world’s leading battery electric vehicle brand in 2025, capturing a 15.7% global market share,” according to Counterpoint Research’s latest Global Passenger EV Forecast. 

“The milestone reflects BYD’s aggressive expansion enabled by its tech leadership and vertically integrated production model, all bolstered by strong domestic policy support.”

A key factor in BYD’s ascendancy is its recently unveiled ultra-fast charging system, representing a significant leap in BEV performance. 

The system features a 1,000V electrical architecture, 10C charging rate batteries, silicon carbide power chips, and the company’s proprietary Blade Battery technology.

Ref: BYD dethrones Tesla as world’s top BEV seller for two consecutive quarters