Tesla loses title as world's biggest electric vehicle maker as sales fall for second year in a row
How Tesla lost its crown as the world’s biggest electric vehicle maker
- Tesla has lost its position as the world's bestselling electric vehicle maker, with sales declining for a second consecutive year.
- The company delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, a 9% decrease from the previous year, while Chinese rival BYD sold 2.26 million vehicles to become the new leader.
- This decline is attributed to customer backlash over Elon Musk's right-wing politics and intense overseas competition.
- Fourth-quarter sales of 418,227 vehicles fell short of analyst expectations and may have been impacted by the expiration of a $7,500 tax credit from the Trump administration.
- Despite the sales downturn, Tesla's stock finished 2025 with an 11% gain, driven by investor optimism for future ventures like robotaxi services and humanoid robots.