The EV Battle: Tesla or BYD?

In 2025, Chinese automaker BYD emerged as a formidable global rival to Tesla, overtaking the American EV pioneer in multiple markets. For the first time, BYD outsold Tesla in Europe, delivering over 7,000 more battery electric vehicles in April alone.

In Southeast Asia, BYD’s presence surged with over 27,000 units sold compared to Tesla’s 4,121. Even in China, Tesla’s most critical international market, BYD held a commanding lead, capturing nearly 30% of the new energy vehicle (NEV) segment while Tesla dropped to under 5%.

This shift reflects BYD’s strategic advantage: vertical integration, competitive pricing, and rapid expansion into emerging markets. As Tesla struggles with declining margins, brand challenges, and delayed model rollouts, BYD continues to capitalize on scale, speed, and local manufacturing.