Summary
Tesla lost its spot as the top global seller of electric vehicles to Chinese company BYD in 2025. Tesla sold 1.64 million vehicles compared to BYD's 2.26 million. The decline in Tesla's sales coincided with political controversies involving CEO Elon Musk and the end of U.S. tax breaks for electric vehicles.
Key Facts
- Tesla sold 1.64 million vehicles in 2025.
- BYD sold 2.26 million vehicles, overtaking Tesla as the top global seller of electric vehicles.
- Tesla's sales fell by 9% from the previous year.
- Elon Musk's political activities and connection with President Trump led to protests and sales slumps.
- A $7,500 U.S. tax credit for electric vehicle purchases ended in September 2025.
- Tesla's fourth quarter sales were 418,227, missing a 440,000 unit target.
- Despite challenges, Tesla's stock rose by about 11% in 2025.
- Tesla introduced cheaper Model Y and Model 3 vehicles to compete in Europe and Asia.
