BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s biggest EV manufacturer
BYD overtakes Tesla as world’s biggest EV manufacturer
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7 January 2026
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BYD sold 2.26 million vehicles in 2025
Tesla faced a challenging year following Elon Musk’s political activities
Price is incredibly important to drivers
BYD sold 2.26 million vehicles in 2025. Source: BYD
Tesla faced a challenging year following Elon Musk’s controversial support for US president Donald Trump, as well as strong overseas competition that saw sales decline for a second year. The boom BYD EV sales is believed to be down to its more competitive pricing.
The EV car giant made more than 1.6 million vehicles in 2025, a 9% decrease from 2024, while its Chinese rival BYD, sold 2.26 million vehicles in 2025, a 27% sales increase, outselling Tesla by around 660,000 units.
BYD only arrived in the UK market in 2023, seeing it move to 17 overall in brand sales charts, overtaking Mini, Mazda and Dacia, in addition to Tesla.
According to This is Money, BYD is launching a new Sealion DM-i and Atto 2 DM-i PHEVs, and it’s expected the manufacturer will launch several all-electric cars too.
Dan Coastworth, head of markets, AJ Bell, told the Daily Mail that Tesla had the “first mover advantage” with EVs, but its moment in the sun has gone.
“Price is incredibly important to drivers and BYD has muscled its way to the top by undercutting its American rival,” he said.
“While Tesla might argue it has the edge on battery range and technology, many people are happy for a more standard offering as they embrace electric power. BYD is far from a no-frills offering though, as it competes well on features, as well as price.”
Coastworth also said that Tesla is fighting back with more affordable vehicles. An example offered by the title is that Tesla reduced the price of its Model Y Standard, now £41,990 – a £3,000 reduction on the Model Y Rear Wheel Drive.
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Tamara BirchNewsletters and sponsored content editor
Tamara is a journalist with more than six years experience writing about environmental topics. This includes advising small businesses on cost-effective ways tom become more sustainable, from installing to solar panels and heat pumps and reducing waste. She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs. Now, she’s using this experience to advise homeowners on the benefits of installing low-carbon technologies. She is also qualified in offering innovative initiatives to improve sustainability practices in businesses, from advertising to marketing and publishing.
Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.
Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024 and became deputy editor in 2025. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.
In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.
He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.
Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.
As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.
His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.
Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.
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