This photo taken on April 24, 2024 shows a new energy vehicle (NEV) assembly line of BYD, China's leading NEV manufacturer, at the plant of BYD in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. Photo:Xinhua

Chinese automaker BYD has become the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) seller after overtaking US EV maker Tesla in 2025 full-year sales for the first time.

According to the latest data released by Tesla on Friday local time, the company's annual deliveries in 2025 amounted to 1.63 million units, down by 8.6 percent year-on-year. This was the first-ever drop in annual deliveries, CNBC reported, noting that the company, which used to have the EV market mostly to itself, is facing formidable competition now, notably from Hyundai and China's BYD.

The company's annual production in 2025 also witnessed a decline by 6.7 percent, down to 1.73 million units in 2024, according to the company.

Tesla's data came just a day after Chinese EV maker BYD released is annual report for 2025 in which it revealed that the company delivered 4.6 million vehicles in 2025, up 7.7 percent from 2024. Of the total, EV sales rose 28 percent to 2.25 million units. 

This is the first time in Tesla's history that its full-year electric vehicle sales have been surpassed by Chinese automaker BYD, making BYD the world's largest EV seller, according to media reports.

The latest data shows that Chinese new-energy vehicle makers are becoming more competitive in production and supply chains, Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), told the Global Times on Saturday, noting that the Chinese EV makers continue to invest in R&D, rapidly advance their technologies, build a complete industrial chain based on China's advanced manufacturing base, and benefit from a well-established domestic market, infrastructure and policy measures that support the industry growth. Even Tesla needs to rely on its gigafactory in China to secure deliveries.

Looking ahead, Chinese EV makers are expected to continue maintaining their competitive position in deliveries as their supply chains and industrial chain expand, industry analysts said.

Global Times