Fifteen years in technology might seem like a geological era… until an old video circulates again and suddenly, the past becomes headline news. In 2011, Elon Musk downplayed BYD in an interview and joked that the company should “focus on not dying” in China. In 2025, the Chinese manufacturer responded with the only metric that weighs more than any phrase in automotive: units sold.
According to data communicated by BYD itself to investors, the company closed 2025 with 2,256,714 fully electric cars (BEV) sold, compared to 1,636,129 deliveries from Tesla throughout the year. The difference is 620,585 vehicles, meaning BYD sold approximately 37.9% more pure electric vehicles than Tesla in 2025.
The surging ahead isn’t just a minor detail: for years, Tesla has been the name most associated with the global electric car, while BYD grew from a less media-focused position in the West. However, the picture in 2025 reshuffles the ranking when strictly talking about BEVs (battery electric vehicles).
It’s not just a number: it’s a sign of a phase shift
BYD’s data also helps understand the context. In the same report, the company breaks down its “NEV” (new energy vehicles) universe — a category that in China usually includes pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles — and the scale becomes even more striking: 4,602,436 NEV units sold in 2025 across passenger and commercial vehicles.
Within that total, BYD’s growth isn’t uniform. Its BEV sales increase by 27.86% year-over-year (from 1,764,992 in 2024 to 2,256,714 in 2025), while its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales for passenger cars show a year-over-year decline (from 2,485,378 to 2,288,709, a -7.91% decrease). Put differently: in 2025, the segment within BYD that’s accelerating strongly is precisely the one competing “head-to-head” with Tesla.
Meanwhile, Tesla ends the year with a clear drop compared to 2024: from 1,808,581 deliveries in 2024 to 1,636,129 in 2025 (a -9.53% decline). The company maintains its status as an industry benchmark, but the annual data reflects that the market is no longer moving solely at Tesla’s pace.
How to explain the surging ahead?
With the numbers on the table, multiple interpretations emerge that are less epic and more market-driven:
- Scale and Portfolio: volume success often comes from having many models, multiple trims, and a strong presence across various segments, not just one or two.
- Pricing Strategy and Value Proposition: in mass adoption of electric vehicles, the relationship between price, range, features, and total cost of ownership is critical. During times of inflation and expensive financing, the “perceived value” becomes decisive.
- Industrial Execution: in automotive manufacturing, producing well and on time is as important as innovation. The competitive advantage often lies in logistics, supply chain, and sustained delivery capacity.
And, in parallel, the “Musk effect” also plays its own role. Tesla is more than just a manufacturer: it is a cultural brand. But as the market matures, focus shifts from storytelling toward product, financing, costs, and real availability.
The irony of the 2011 video
The comparison with that 2011 comment has become symbolic because it encapsulates a common pattern in the tech industry: underestimating a “new” competitor often proves costly. BYD not only “did not die,” but in 2025 it has moved ahead in pure electric units, and has also consolidated an overall NEV volume that gives it strategic room to withstand price wars, regulatory changes, and demand cycles.
The key point for 2026 isn’t just the meme but the bigger question: if the longstanding leader in electric cars can be overtaken in volume, what other sectors are on the verge of reordering? Europe, the US, and China are pushing simultaneously (with different policies), and the race is no longer just technological: it’s industrial, energy-related, and geopolitical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has BYD surpassed Tesla in electric car sales in 2025?
Yes, in pure electric (BEV): BYD reports 2,256,714 BEV passenger cars sold in 2025, compared to 1,636,129 Tesla deliveries.
What does “NEV” mean in BYD’s figures?
“NEV” typically refers to new energy vehicles, a category that includes pure electric and plug-in hybrids, and can also encompass commercial vehicles in reports.
What’s the difference between a fully electric car and a plug-in hybrid?
A fully electric (BEV) runs solely on battery and electric motor. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) combines a rechargeable battery with an internal combustion engine.
Why does sales volume matter so much in the electric car race?
Because volume often translates into economies of scale, greater ability to adjust prices, ensure supply, and support investments in manufacturing, batteries, and software.