China’s BYD is poised to surpass Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles (EVs) for the first time on an annual basis, marking a historic shift in the global automotive industry.
The company announced on Thursday that its battery-electric vehicle sales surged nearly 28% in 2025, exceeding 2.25 million units.
Tesla, which is due to release its official 2025 sales figures later on Friday, is expected to report around 1.65 million units sold, according to analyst estimates it published last week.
The anticipated change in leadership comes after a challenging year for the U.S. automaker, marked by a mixed reception for new models, unease over Elon Musk’s political activities, and intensifying competition from Chinese rivals like BYD.
By James Kisoo
