Tesla has surrendered its long-held title as the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer following a decline in sales for the second consecutive year. This shift has prompted questions about whether Elon Musk's increasingly polarising political activities are costing the company customers and affecting its market position.
The Austin-based automaker reported delivering 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, marking a 9% decrease compared to the previous year, according to PBS. Meanwhile, Chinese rival BYD has overtaken Tesla, selling approximately 2.26 million EVs during the same period. This represents a significant reversal for Musk, who had previously dismissed BYD as a serious competitor, while Tesla's meteoric rise seemed unstoppable.
