Elon Musk’s Tesla loses lead as China’s BYD tops EV sales in Germany and UK — details here
In a major shift in the automotive industry, China’s BYD Company sold more electric cars than Tesla Inc. in Europe’s two largest electric vehicle markets (Germany and the United Kingdom) last year.
The 2025 numbers mark a turning point and highlight a broader global trend in which the Chinese automaker’s rapid global expansion is pitted against Tesla’s cooling demand in key markets.
BYD vs Tesla: Demand in Germany
In Germany, Europe’s largest automobile market, the difference between the two manufacturers was very noticeable. BYD registered more than twice as many new vehicles as Tesla in December. Bloomberg reported.
For the full year, BYD’s car sales in Germany rose eightfold to 23,306, while Tesla’s fell by almost half to 19,390, according to figures released Tuesday by the Federal Motor Transport Authority.
Performance of electric vehicle manufacturers in the UK
Besides Germany, BYD has also overtaken Tesla in the UK, the region’s second-largest market for plug-in cars. The Dolphin hatchback maker overtook Tesla in September, finishing the year with 51,422 registrations compared to Tesla’s 45,513.
BYD and other Chinese automakers have enjoyed strong growth in Britain, which does not follow the European Union in imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Cheaper sticker prices made them popular with consumers and helped the UK sell more than 2 million new vehicles last year.
Meanwhile, Tesla, led by Elon Musk, is struggling across Europe due to intensifying competition. This comes as other automakers such as Volkswagen AG, Renault SA and BMW AG are expanding their EV offerings.
The intense backlash against Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s political activities also contributed significantly to Tesla’s difficulties. Bloomberg reported.
BYD dethroned Tesla
Tesla lost its position as the world’s largest seller of electric cars to BYD after reporting a 16% drop in deliveries in the fourth quarter and a second consecutive year of declines in annual sales.
Meanwhile, BYD continues to expand abroad, even as domestic momentum slows due to stricter rules on heavy discounting. In 2025, the vehicle maker delivered 2.26 million EVs, compared to Tesla’s 1.64 million.
It has been reported that Tesla also increased car rental prices. The electric vehicle maker shows monthly rental prices on its website, and the monthly cost of a leased Model Y now ranges from $529 to $599, up from $479 to $529 previously. Reuters It was previously reported.
