BYD Targets Tesla's Top BEV Sales Title

Chinese auto giant's battery pack manufacturing strength gives it the long-term sales advantage.

Paul Myles, European Editor

January 2, 2024

1 Min Read
BYD BEV
BYD global sales edge closer to toppling Tesla from top spot.

China’s leading battery-electric-vehicle manufacturer, BYD, is edging closer to toppling Tesla as the world’s biggest-selling BEV brand.

The company announces this week that it sold a record 526,000 BEVs in the last three months of 2023 aided by a more than 70% surge in sales in December, reports the BBC. BYD claims it has sold more than 3 million vehicles, albeit that includes gasoline-electric hybrids among the BEV products.

That said, the company says it has sold 1.6 million BEVs, however, Tesla releases its own Q4 sales figures today showing it retains its global sales title recording 484,500 electric vehicles in the last three months of 2023 and 1.8 million for the year as a whole. Nonetheless, BYD's greater December sales figure illustrates how quickly Chinese BEV makers are closing in on Tesla especially because they are able to sell their vehicles at prices few traditional automakers can match.

Industry analysts also point out that BYD’s success lies mainly in its ability to manufacture its own battery packs for all its products unlike most of its rivals, including Tesla.

About the Author(s)

Paul Myles

European Editor, Informa Group

Paul Myles is an award-winning journalist based in Europe covering all aspects of the automotive industry. He has a wealth of experience in the field working at specialist, national and international levels.

Subscribe to a WardsAuto newsletter today!
Get the latest automotive news delivered daily or weekly. With 5 newsletters to choose from, each curated by our Editors, you can decide what matters to you most.