Chinese auto giant BYD sold 2.26 million electric vehicles last year, a company statement showed Thursday, setting a new record for any firm globally.
The extraordinary figure positions BYD to surpass Elon Musk’s Tesla in annual EV sales for the first time. Tesla had previously announced 1.22 million EV sales by the end of September 2025.
Tesla is scheduled to release its total EV sales figures for last year on Friday.
Shenzhen-based BYD, which also manufactures hybrid vehicles, disclosed the data in a statement filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Founded in 1995, BYD-known in Chinese as “Biyadi” and carrying the English slogan “Build Your Dreams”-initially specialized in battery production. Now, the company has become a dominant force in China’s highly competitive new energy vehicle market, the largest in the world.
Expanding Beyond china
BYD is now actively seeking to expand its international footprint, even as increasing price sensitivity among Chinese consumers impacts profitability. While BYD and other Chinese automakers face significant tariffs in the United States,they are gaining traction in Southeast Asia,the Middle East,and even Europe,much to the concern of established European automotive manufacturers.
Tesla narrowly edged out BYD in 2024, recording 1.79 million in sales compared to BYD’s 1.76 million.
This year, Tesla has encountered sales challenges in key markets, perhaps linked to CEO Elon Musk’s public support for U.S. President Donald Trump and far-right political figures. The company also faces intensifying competition from BYD, other Chinese automakers, and European giants.
Key Fact-BYD’s 2.26 million EV sales in 2025 represent a new global record for any automaker. the company’s success is driven by its battery technology, integrated supply chain, and competitive pricing.
© 2026 AFP
Citation: China’s BYD logs record EV sales in 2025 (2026, January 1) retrieved 2 January 2026 from https://techxplore.com/news/2026-01-china-byd-ev-sales.html
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