In 2025, the throne of the world’s best-selling battery electric vehicle (BEV) changed hands. BYD sold 2.2567 million new cars throughout the year, far outpacing Tesla’s 1.6361 million units with a leading edge of 620,600 vehicles. This high-stakes industry showdown that captured global attention has finally come to an end. Beyond a mere ranking shift between the two enterprises, this outcome marks the advent of a new era of globalization in the global new energy vehicle competition, sparking widespread discussions among overseas media and netizens.
Overseas Public Opinion: Dual Voices of Recognition and Prejudice
Mainstream overseas media have focused on the impact of BYD’s rise on the global automotive industry. Car And Driver plainly stated, “BYD is not just a rival to Tesla, but a challenge to all automakers,” attributing its victory to the efficient vertical integration of China’s new energy vehicle industry chain. Media outlets have generally highlighted BYD’s overseas performance: its 2025 overseas sales reached 1 million units, accounting for 22% of total sales, with a 2026 target of 1.5 to 1.6 million units. Bloomberg predicts that its full-year total sales may hit 5.3 million units, further expanding its lead over Tesla amid the latest industry news of shifting market dynamics.
Consumer discussions have shown a sharp divide. Supporters acknowledge BYD’s high cost-performance ratio. A Brazilian netizen pointed out that BYD Qin or Song Pro models are 15%-20% cheaper than Toyota Corolla locally while offering superior configurations. Consumers in markets like Australia and Thailand have also shared sightings of numerous BYD vehicles on the roads, with North American consumers even calling for its popular models to enter the local market. On the contrary, opponents hold inherent prejudices, questioning BYD’s reliance on government subsidies, accusing it of data falsification, labeling it a “cheap Chinese brand,” and arguing that it cannot be compared to Tesla’s “high-tech, high-quality” offerings.
Tesla’s Setback: Dual Impacts of Distraction and Policy Rollback
Tesla’s 2025 deliveries fell by 8.6% year-on-year, marking two consecutive years of decline. The core cause has been attributed to “distraction.” On one hand, Elon Musk’s personal controversies have damaged the brand image, leading to a 28% plummet in new car registrations in Europe from January to November. On the other hand, Tesla’s obsession with products like the Cybertruck, which are difficult to mass-produce in the short term, delayed the launch of the much-anticipated $20,000 affordable model. Instead, it only introduced a “simplified version” of the Model 3/Y with a starting price of nearly $40,000, failing to stimulate market vitality.
The cancellation of the U.S. electric vehicle tax credit subsidy enforced by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) has further exacerbated Tesla’s predicament. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the retail share of electric vehicles in the U.S. dropped from 9.8% to 6.2% compared to the same period in 2024, with the average transaction price rising by nearly $6,000 to $53,300, pushing the threshold for electric vehicle purchases higher. As a leading enterprise dependent on the U.S. market, Tesla’s fourth-quarter deliveries fell by 15.6% year-on-year, and its revenue from carbon emission credits also slumped significantly. Additionally, Musk’s focus on future businesses like Robotaxi has drawn criticism from the outside world for neglecting delivery data.
This shift in the sales champion is not the end of an elimination round, but the starting point of a new game in the global new energy vehicle industry. In the future, BYD’s pursuit of extreme efficiency and cost control will engage in long-term competition with Tesla’s path of integrating automobiles with cutting-edge technology, and the restructuring of the global automotive industry has only just begun.
