Last year was a nail-biter for EV sales, but in 2025, BYD surged ahead by selling 620,585 more electric vehicles than Tesla.
- Tesla experienced an 8.6 percent decline in sales compared to its 2024 results.
- Sales of models like the Cybertruck plummeted by 50.8 percent year-over-year.
- BYD not only outsold Tesla but also took the global lead in EV sales.
The recent sales figures reveal a tough year for Tesla. Deliveries fell significantly in the fourth quarter, reflecting broader challenges for the automaker.
In the final quarter of 2025, Tesla delivered 418,227 vehicles. This marks a stark contrast when compared to 495,570 units sold in the same period last year—an alarming 15.6 percent decrease.
Notably, sales of “Other Models”—which include the Model S, X, and Cybertruck—dropped from 23,640 to just 11,642. This represents a staggering decline of 50.8 percent, highlighting the challenges the company faces with its pickup model.
Overall, Tesla delivered a total of 1,636,129 vehicles for the entire year, down from 1,789,226 in 2024. This drops sales by 8.6 percent year-over-year.
Tesla Q4 2025 Sales
Despite the disappointing results, Tesla has remained quiet about the specifics of this downturn. The company is set to release its full financial results on January 28. However, the fourth quarter figures fell short of original expectations of 422,850 vehicles, suggesting that overall sales did not meet projections.
The disparity in sales expectations for “Other Models” was particularly notable. Projections suggested around 34,848 units would be sold in Q4, but the actual number was only 11,642—an estimate that was off by nearly 300 percent.
Tesla 2025 Sales
Yet, there was a glimmer of good news. The company reported a record deployment of 14.2 GWh of energy storage products in Q4, bringing the total for the year to 46.7 GWh—up from 31.4 GWh in 2024.
Although Tesla didn’t provide extensive details, the issues confronting the company are well-known. CEO Elon Musk’s controversial decisions, including his involvement with the Trump Administration and significant workforce reductions, have alienated many customers. Additionally, the competitive landscape has intensified, compounded by the loss of federal tax credits that affected overall sales at companies like Rivian.
BYD Outsells Tesla
Tesla’s disappointing numbers mean they no longer hold the title of the top-selling electric vehicle brand globally. According to BBC News, BYD sold 2,256,714 EVs in the past year, which places them 620,585 units ahead of Tesla.
This outcome might not be unexpected, as Tesla’s hold on the title was precarious. In 2024, Tesla’s sales of 1,789,226 narrowly outpaced BYD’s 1,777,965.
Moreover, BYD’s overall sales, which include various vehicles such as plug-in hybrids and buses, reached an impressive 4,537,356 units in 2025.
