Tesla has lost the EV crown to a Chinese company
Tesla has lost the EV crown to a Chinese company  
Podcast: Elon Musk Podcast
Published On: Fri Jan 09 2026
Description: Tesla delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9 percent from the year before. BYD sold 2.26 million. For the first time in a full calendar year, Tesla is no longer the world's largest electric vehicle maker. The $7,500 federal tax credit expired, European sales collapsed, and Musk's political activity alienated customers in key markets. But the stock finished the year up 11 percent, energy storage deployments hit records, and Cybercab production is starting in April. This is the full breakdown of what happened and what comes next.