TL;DR
Full-year 2025 electric-vehicle sales data show China’s BYD has surpassed Tesla to become the global leader. Wired reports the shift follows repeated instances in 2025 where BYD outperformed Tesla in Europe and a broader decline in Tesla’s sales.
What happened
New full-year sales figures for 2025 make official what industry observers had been watching: BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest maker of electric vehicles. Wired’s reporting notes that BYD had already outpaced Tesla in Europe several times over the course of 2025, and the year-end results confirm the company’s lead on a global scale. The coverage frames the change against a backdrop of weakening Tesla sales, describing Tesla’s numbers as continuing to fall. The story was reported by Jeremy White for Wired on January 2, 2026. Beyond the broad headline that BYD now holds the top spot, the source does not provide detailed sales figures, market shares, or regional breakdowns in the excerpt provided.
Why it matters
- Market leadership shifts can affect investor and consumer perceptions of which automakers set benchmarks in EV design and production.
- A change at the top may influence supplier and manufacturing relationships across global EV supply chains.
- Geographic wins, such as BYD’s stronger performance in Europe during 2025, could reshape regional competitive strategy for other automakers.
- Sustained declines in a major maker’s sales can prompt strategic reassessments about product lines, pricing, and market focus.
Key facts
- Wired reports that BYD surpassed Tesla to become the world’s largest electric-vehicle maker based on full-year 2025 sales figures.
- During 2025, BYD outperformed Tesla in Europe on multiple occasions before the year-end outcome.
- The reporting characterizes Tesla’s sales as continuing to drop during the period covered.
- The piece was written by Jeremy White and published by Wired on January 2, 2026.
- The source does not include specific unit sales, percentage market shares, or a country-by-country breakdown in the provided excerpt.
- The article frames the development as an official global leadership change rather than a temporary regional result.
What to watch next
- How Tesla responds to the loss of the top global EV spot — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether BYD’s leadership is sustained into subsequent quarters and how market share evolves — not confirmed in the source.
- Regulatory, pricing, or product moves from other major automakers reacting to BYD’s rise — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Electric vehicle (EV): A vehicle propelled by one or more electric motors using energy stored in rechargeable batteries.
- Market share: The percentage of total sales in a market captured by a company over a defined time period.
- Full-year sales: Total units sold or revenue recorded by a company over a calendar or fiscal year.
- Automaker: A company that designs, manufactures, and sells motor vehicles.
Reader FAQ
Did BYD officially become the world’s largest EV maker in 2025?
Yes. According to Wired’s reporting, full-year 2025 sales figures show BYD overtook Tesla as the global leader.
Were specific sales numbers or market shares published in the article excerpt?
Not confirmed in the source.
Was BYD already surpassing Tesla in any regions before the year-end tally?
Yes. The reporting says BYD bested Tesla in Europe several times during 2025.
Will this change affect Tesla’s production or product plans?
Not confirmed in the source.
JEREMY WHITE GEAR JAN 2, 2026 9:54 AM Tesla Loses Its EV Crown to BYD as Sales Keep Dropping Full-year electric vehicle sales figures have dropped for 2025, revealing China's…
Sources
- Tesla Loses Its EV Crown to BYD as Sales Keep Dropping
- China's BYD overtakes Tesla as world's top EV seller for …
- China's BYD overtakes Tesla as world's biggest electric car …
- BYD overtakes Tesla as China reshapes the global EV race
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