Tesla Remains the Top-Selling Electric Car Manufacturer, BYD Catching Up

KatadataOTO – For the first time in more than a decade, global sales of Tesla have declined. However, the American manufacturer is still the world's best-selling electric car producer.

According to the BBC, Tesla delivered 1.79 million units throughout 2024, a slight decrease from the previous 1.8 million units. This achievement was reached after they lowered prices to attract customers.

But in 2025, Tesla's position as the best-selling electric car manufacturer is increasingly threatened. This is because BYD, a Chinese manufacturer, has successfully increased its EV sales figures and narrowed the gap between them.

Throughout 2024, BYD sold 1.76 million units. That number is an increase compared to 2023, which only recorded 1.6 million units.

Photo : The Verge

They achieved these high sales figures because BYD benefits from government subsidies. Thanks to this, the public is interested in switching their vehicles to electric cars or other fuel-efficient models.

Although Tesla also considers China a primary market, they are facing pressure in several countries. As a result, its sales figures have declined.

This is slightly different from BYD, which is still aggressively developing its market. They are considered aggressive in working on markets in developing countries like Indonesia.

BYD has also confirmed it will continue to add more countries to market its products. One of them is South Korea, which the company plans to enter starting this year.

BYD's Electric Car Production is Higher

Although its sales are still lower, BYD has beaten Tesla in the number of electric vehicles produced. Throughout 2024, they produced 1,777,965 EV units, an increase compared to 2023, which was only 1.6 million units.

Photo : KatadataOTO

Meanwhile, Tesla only managed to produce 1,773,443 units in 2024. This figure is a decrease compared to the same period the previous year, which was 1.85 million units.

With this achievement, BYD has produced about 4,500 more EV units than Tesla.

If this situation continues, it is not impossible that BYD will become the world's best-selling electric car manufacturer this year.