BYD Surpasses Tesla in Global EV Sales as Autonomous Parking Expands

In 2025, BYD has surpassed Tesla as the global leader in electric vehicle sales, with BYD selling over 2 million plugin vehicles in the first half of the year compared to Tesla's 700,000, and BYD's battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales notably outpacing Tesla's. BYD's growth is driven by both domestic demand and expanding exports, while Tesla has experienced declining sales and market challenges despite efforts to refresh its lineup. In addition to sales, BYD is innovating in autonomous driving technology with its 'God's Eye' system, which uses a multi-sensor approach for superior parking autonomy and has been deployed in over a million vehicles, contrasting Tesla's primarily camera-based system. Meanwhile, a broader industry trend is emerging where Asian automakers like BYD are reintroducing physical controls for critical functions such as windshield wipers and hazard lights, responding to safety concerns over touchscreen-dominated interfaces popularized by Tesla. This back-to-basics movement is also gaining traction in Europe, where physical controls will be required for top safety ratings starting in 2026. Tesla faces increasing competition from BYD in both vehicle sales and technological innovation, signaling a significant shift in the electric vehicle market landscape.