Chinese automaker BYD has surpassed Tesla in electric car sales for the fourth consecutive quarter, becoming the top-selling electric vehicle brand of 2025.
According to data from January to September of this year, BYD has already sold 1.61 million electric vehicles worldwide, while Elon Musk’s company recorded only 1.21 million units sold.
In 2024, Tesla managed to lead sales by a narrow margin: 1.789 million cars sold compared to BYD’s 1.764 million. Unfortunately for Musk, this year hasn’t been as favorable for the American brand.
Tesla saw sales declines throughout most of the year but is now working to regain market strength. Recently, the manufacturer announced a more affordable version of its best-selling electric vehicle: the Model Y Standard.
By cutting costs through the removal of several luxury features, Tesla is offering the new vehicle at a price $5,000 lower than the Model Y Premium edition.
Even with recent launches, Tesla’s lineup remains relatively small. Meanwhile, BYD appears to be following a different strategy to gain market share: offering a wide range of models at competitive prices.
However, while electric vehicles are still Tesla’s main source of income, it seems that Musk has other plans for the company. The entrepreneur aims to increasingly invest in making Tesla a leader in robotics and artificial intelligence technologies.
Photo and video: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
