Lead

China's electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has overtaken Tesla to become the world's largest battery-powered car maker, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. The shift is attributed to BYD's surging overseas shipments, even as the company posted an 8.2 per cent year-on-year drop in deliveries.

Coverage comparison

The South China Morning Post reported that BYD's second-quarter deliveries reached 557,090 units, an 8.2 per cent decline from the same period in 2025. Tesla, in a statement on Thursday, said it delivered 480,126 vehicles in the three months ending June, up 25 per cent year on year. Despite the sales jump, Tesla did not retain the global pure EV crown.

The report notes that BYD assembles both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids, while Tesla builds only pure EVs. The Post's coverage highlights BYD's success in overseas markets, particularly in western European nations and Southeast Asia, as a key factor in its edge over Tesla and other international rivals.

Key claims

  • BYD has surpassed Tesla to become the world's largest battery-powered car manufacturer, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
  • BYD's overseas shipments are surging, according to the same report.
  • BYD posted an 8.2 per cent year-on-year drop in deliveries.
  • Tesla delivered 480,126 vehicles in the three months ending June, up 25 per cent year on year, as stated in Tesla's announcement cited by the Post.
  • BYD's second-quarter deliveries hit 557,090 units, an 8.2 per cent decline from the same period in 2025.
  • BYD cars' rising popularity in overseas countries, particularly western European nations and Southeast Asia, has given it an edge over Tesla and other international rivals in selling pure electric and hybrid cars, according to Gao Shen, an independent analyst in Shanghai.