BYD maintained its position as the largest seller of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China in 2025, even as its retail sales declined from a year earlier, while Tesla fell to fifth place in the world’s largest NEV market, according to data released on Monday by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
BYD’s passenger NEV retail sales totaled 3.48 million units in 2025, down 6.3% year on year. The Shenzhen-based automaker held a 27.2% share of China’s NEV market, lower than the 34.1% share it recorded in 2024 but still well ahead of its closest rivals.
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Tesla recorded 625,698 retail sales in China in 2025, a decline of 4.8% from the previous year. The U.S. electric vehicle maker captured a 4.9% share of the NEV market, ranking fifth, down from third place in 2024 when it sold 657,102 vehicles and held a 6.0% share.
Geely Auto ranked second in China’s NEV market in 2025, reporting retail sales of 1.56 million units, an increase of 81.3% from a year earlier. The automaker’s market share rose to 12.2%, reflecting strong growth across its electrified brands.
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Changan Automobile placed third with NEV retail sales of 789,141 units, up 26.8% year on year, giving it a 6.2% market share. SAIC-GM-Wuling followed closely in fourth place with 772,147 units sold and a 6.0% share.
Other automakers in the top 10 included Huawei-backed HIMA with 588,549 units, Chery with 531,413 units, Leapmotor with 529,503 units, Seres with 422,920 units, and Xiaomi EV, which ranked tenth after posting sales of 411,837 units, more than tripling its volume from a year earlier.
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In the broader passenger vehicle market, including both NEVs and internal combustion engine models, BYD also ranked first in 2025, with a 14.7% share of total retail sales. Geely placed second with an 11.0% share, after selling 2.61 million passenger vehicles, up 46.9% year on year. FAW-Volkswagen ranked third, despite a 4.8% decline in sales.
Monthly data showed that in December, BYD sold 339,854 passenger NEVs, securing a 25.4% market share. Geely followed with 135,989 units and a 10.2% share, while Tesla ranked third for the month with 93,843 units and a 7.0% share.
