January 1, 2026

EV throne or parking-lot empire?

BYD Sells 4.6M Vehicles in 2025, Meets Revised Sales Goal

BYD crowned EV king? Fans cheer, skeptics yell 'stockpile'

TLDR: BYD says it sold 4.6 million cars in 2025, likely overtaking Tesla as the top electric maker. Comments split: some hail a global win despite tariffs, others allege stockpiled cars and risky debt, turning the milestone into a debate over real demand and China’s growing auto power.

BYD says it sold 4.6 million cars in 2025, hitting its revised goal and likely leapfrogging Tesla to the top. But the comment section turned the victory lap into a mosh pit. Some cheered, saying BYD pulled this off despite fierce competition at home and trade barriers abroad, framing it as grit over hype. Others rolled their eyes at the “revised” bit, asking if the crown fits when the target got lowered.

Skeptics brought receipts. One linked an Australian report alleging BYD was “dumping thousands of cars in public parking lots” and warned about debt-fueled growth, turning the win into a parking‑lot empire joke (Carexpert). Meanwhile, satellite sleuths posted factory flyovers, turning it into a who’s-bigger meme: BYD’s Zhengzhou vs Tesla’s Austin.

Global angles added spice. A popular take: folks in the European Union and North America (EU/NA) don’t see how Chinese brands dominate outside their bubble, with tariffs blocking them while Tesla builds many cars in China. There was snark too, mocking narratives about “evil communist China” needing to simply make better cars to win.

The mood? Half coronation, half courtroom. BYD’s big number is undeniable; whether demand is real or stockpiled is the brawl.

Key Points

  • BYD delivered 4.6 million vehicles in 2025.
  • Deliveries rose 7.7% compared to 2024.
  • BYD met its revised full-year sales target for 2025.
  • BYD likely surpassed Tesla to become the world’s largest EV maker in 2025.
  • The outlook for China’s auto market is challenging in the year ahead.

Hottest takes

"Selling that many cars despite intense competition at home and trade barriers abroad" — ZeroGravitas
"dumping thousands of cars in public parking lots" — alecco
"Chinese cars don't sell just in China. They utterly dominate globally outside of EU/NA" — AnotherGoodName
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