Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
BYD became the world’s top electric car seller in 2025
BYD, a Chinese carmaker based in Shenzhen, sold 2.26 million electric cars worldwide in 2025.
That was 600,000 more than Tesla, which sold 1.64 million.
The company began in the 1990s as a small battery maker founded by engineer Wang Chuanfu.
It entered the car business in 2003, first making buses and taxis.
Its battery expertise helped it develop control over much of its car production, from batteries to vehicle assembly.
BYD’s rise reflects how Chinese carmakers have changed as electric cars and new technology have grown in importance.
The company is set to feature prominently at the Paris Motor Show, which opens on October 12.
BYD became the world’s top electric-car seller in 2025, overtaking Tesla.
It sold 2.26 million electric cars worldwide, about 600,000 more than Tesla’s 1.64 million.
The Chinese company began as a battery maker founded by engineer Wang Chuanfu.
BYD entered vehicle production in 2003, initially making buses and taxis in Shenzhen.
Its control of much of its battery-to-vehicle production helped it develop its car business.
- Who
- BYD, the Chinese vehicle and battery maker.
- What
- It became the world’s leading electric-car seller, ahead of Tesla.
- When
- In 2025.
- Where
- Worldwide.
- Why
- The article says BYD built expertise in batteries and controls much of its production chain, from batteries to vehicle assembly.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We started with only 30 people. The engineers earned twice as much as I did, and when we took a taxi rather than the bus, we had to justify it.
BYD arrived with relative modesty. They had expertise in batteries, less in cars. But they stayed the course without ever wavering, and their learning took a good fifteen years.
They told us they were building the vehicles of the future and we found them arrogant.
BYD began as a small battery-making company founded by engineer Wang Chuanfu.
BYD entered vehicle production, starting with buses and taxis in Shenzhen.
Tesla chief executive Elon Musk mocked BYD’s vehicles in an interview with Bloomberg.
BYD sold 2.26 million electric cars worldwide, surpassing Tesla’s 1.64 million.
- BYD electric-car sales in 2025
- 2.26 million
- Tesla electric-car sales in 2025
- 1.64 million
- BYD’s sales lead
- About 600,000 cars
- BYD vehicle production began
- 2003, with buses and taxis in Shenzhen
Sources
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