Chinese automaker BYD sold more electric vehicle (EV) than its U.S. rival Tesla in the European market for the first time in April. The Chinese firm reported a 169% surge in sales last month as Tesla stumbles, according to market research firm Jato Dynamics. BYD sold 7,231 battery-powered EVs in April, outpacing Tesla, which sold 7,165 units during the same period. Against the backdrop of a 28% overall growth in the European EV market, Tesla's sales plummeted by 49%. Analysts called this a “watershed moment” for the European EV market. For the month of April, Renault, Škoda, Volkswagen, Audi and BMW also outsold Tesla in pure electric cars, the data showed. BYD outsold Tesla by an even wider margin when including the carmaker's plug-in hybrid EVs. The Chinese company's total sales soared 359% in April from a year earlier, Jato Dynamics said. “Although the gap in monthly sales volume between the two automakers is not yet significant, the impact is substantial. This marks a watershed moment for the European EV market,” Felipe Munoz, Analyst at Jato, said.
Beyond Europe, Tesla's sales in China fell by 6% year-on-year in April, marking the seventh consecutive month of year-on-year declines. Meanwhile, BYD is eyeing rapid expansion overseas as it unveiled the Dolphin Surf, the European version of its cheap Seagull EV. In 2024, BYD's overseas sales reached 417,200 units. In the first quarter of 2025, BYD's car carriers transported more than 25,000 new-energy vehicles (NEVs) overseas. To date, BYD's NEVs have reached over 400 cities in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. This marks a breakthrough for the Chinese brand's efforts to expand into overseas markets. On a global level, BYD has overtaken Tesla in the future readiness rankings, an indicator referring to a company's ability to anticipate and adapt to external changes, according to a report by a Swiss business school. Chinese companies' localization efforts allow Western audiences to recognize them not just as Chinese brands with advanced technology, but as truly global enterprises that adapt to local markets, the Global Times reports.
Tesla’s bestselling Model Y faces yet another challenger in China after Xiaomi unveiled the YU7 electric SUV. The smartphone maker’s much-anticipated vehicle, featuring a preliminary self-driving system, large multimedia screen and high-performance battery, is seen as a game changer in the premium electric vehicle (EV) segment, where Tesla’s overwhelming advantage has been quickly dwindling.
