BYD Sells 2.25M EVs, Overtakes Tesla as Global Leader

A Chinese automaker once mocked by Elon Musk just became the world's biggest seller of electric cars, proving that affordable innovation can win the global market.

BYD sold 2,254,714 all-electric vehicles in 2025, surging past Tesla's 1,636,129 units by more than 600,000 cars. That's a 27.9% jump for BYD while Tesla's sales actually dropped 9% from the previous year.

Back in 2011, when asked if BYD posed a real threat, Musk laughed it off in a Bloomberg interview. "Have you seen their car?" he said dismissively. "I don't think they have a great product."

Fourteen years later, the numbers tell a different story. BYD's secret weapon isn't flashy tech or the fastest charging speeds. It's pricing that makes electric vehicles accessible to millions more people.

In China, the BYD Qin L starts at just $16,500, nearly half the $33,000 price of a Tesla Model 3. Even in the United States, BYD's Han model undercuts Tesla's cheapest options, starting at $25,300 compared to $38,630 for the entry-level Model 3.

The affordability strategy is working worldwide. In Europe, BYD's Dolphin Surf starts around $26,100 while Tesla's most affordable Model 3 costs $44,000. Tesla has tried responding with lower-cost variants, but BYD keeps winning on price.

BYD's global expansion hit a milestone in 2025 with international sales exceeding one million units for the first time ever. That represents a massive 150% increase over the previous year, showing the brand's rapid acceptance across continents.

The company also sold 2.3 million plug-in hybrid vehicles, a category where Tesla doesn't even compete. Those combined sales brought BYD's total to 4.5 million vehicles sold in 2025.

The Ripple Effect

BYD's rise means electric vehicles are becoming genuinely affordable for average families, not just early adopters with deep pockets. When EVs cost half as much, millions more people can make the switch from gas-powered cars, accelerating the clean energy transition worldwide.

The competition is also pushing Tesla to finally focus on more affordable models. The American automaker recently launched budget-friendly versions of its popular models, directly responding to BYD's pricing pressure.

For consumers everywhere, this rivalry means better prices, more choices, and faster innovation in electric vehicles. When giants compete, everyday people win.

A company dismissed as irrelevant just became number one by making clean transportation something everyone can afford.