Tesla Reclaims Number 1 EV Seller From BYD

Tesla is once again the world’s largest electric car maker after a 6.5 percent increase in sales, while China’s BYD falls to second place with a 25 percent drop in the first quarter of 2026.

According to data published by InsideEVs, Tesla delivered 358,023 electric cars globally in the first three months of this year. That’s enough to secure the top spot again after 2025, when BYD was on the throne.

BYD sold 310,389 electric cars in the same period. This is a decrease of 25.5 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. Including plug-in hybrids, the Chinese sold 695,772 cars in the first quarter. However, that’s still a 30 percent drop. The reason for the decline can be found in the domestic market in China, where government support for electric cars has been reduced. At the same time, a 5 percent tax on electric cars was introduced. In practice, this means that Chinese car buyers get less support and have to pay more for the car.

Tesla bases its sales on two vehicles, the Model Y and the Model 3.

• Also See: Tesla Set To Market Cars Without Steering Wheels And Foot Pedals And Is Being Investigated For Autonomous Vehicles.