BYD Overtakes Tesla to Become the World's Best-Selling Electric Vehicle Manufacturer

KatadataOTO – BYD has officially become the world's best-selling electric car manufacturer, beating Tesla. Throughout 2025, the Chinese company recorded sales of 2.26 million units, an increase of 28 percent compared to the previous year.

This number is higher than Tesla, which only recorded sales of 1.64 million units, a 9 percent decrease compared to its achievement in 2024.

This is the first time BYD has surpassed Tesla in electric car sales. Previously, the manufacturer of the Atto 1 only held the position of the second-largest EV producer in the world.

Reporting from Business Insider, Tesla has indeed been under pressure in recent months. In fact, sales in the fourth quarter saw a decrease of nearly 16 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

Photo: Carscoops

One of the main reasons is the government policy that eliminated incentives for electric vehicles. The value is quite significant, at USD 7,500 or equivalent to IDR 125.2 million.

Additionally, Tesla also had to face a decline in sales in several key markets such as Europe. The drop in demand on the blue continent is reportedly due to negative sentiment towards the political policies adopted by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.

Then, the electric car manufacturer also experienced pressure in China, the world's largest EV market. Intense competition with local manufacturers, including BYD which offers more affordable units, has put it under increasing pressure.

BYD Sales in Indonesia

BYD's large sales volume is also inseparable from the large electric vehicle market in Indonesia. Based on Gaikindo data, as of November 2025, BYD's retail sales successfully reached 39,289 units.

Photo: Courtesy

This figure is 237.1 percent higher than the same period last year, which only reached 11,654 units. Thanks to this, the manufacturer has successfully secured the sixth position of best-selling producers in Indonesia with a market share of 1.4 percent of the total national market.

This growth is believed to be inseparable from the high demand for their newest model, the BYD Atto 1. The electric car is offered at a competitive price, which has successfully attracted public interest.