BYD Tops Tesla as Global EV Sales Rise More Than 25% in Early 2026

Global electric-vehicle sales reached about 11.2 million units in the first four months of 2026, a 26% increase year-on-year, according to industry trackers including EV-Volumes and the IEA. China accounts for roughly half of new EV sales, Europe close to a third, and the United States a high-single-digit share. Regional April data diverged sharply: European BEV sales rose 38% to 298,203 units, lifting penetration to 25.9% from 20.0% a year earlier, while US BEV sales fell 19% to 75,349 units, leaving penetration at just 5.5%. China's BEV sales dipped 1% to 642,317 units, with penetration at 30.1%. BYD has cemented its lead over Tesla, delivering 2.26 million battery-electric vehicles in 2025 versus Tesla's 1.64 million, the first time it overtook the US maker on a full-year basis. In April, BYD led BEV makers with 163,100 units, ahead of Tesla at 98,400 and Geely at 80,600. The IEA forecasts global EV sales of 22.7 million in 2026, lifting the worldwide share to about 24.7%.