Those reporting BYD overtook Tesla as top global electric vehicle maker are wrong

In the past few weeks, major news outlets have reported that Chinese automotive giant BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles. While it may be true that BYD has usurped Tesla to sell more electric vehicles or generate more revenue, the idea that either is the largest EV seller in the world completely ignores a company that sells more EVs each year than both Tesla and BYD combined.

Those EVs just have half the wheels.

I’m talking, of course, about the real global leader in electric vehicle sales: Yadea, a company that builds electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, outselling by a long shot Tesla and BYD combined.

Of course part of this argument is semantical, and it also depends on how you definite the world’s largest seller. Many recent articles about BYD overtaking Tesla refer to BYD’s 2024 annual revenue, which eclipsed Tesla’s for the same period. To be fair, that feat is even more impressive considering Tesla enjoys a relatively large sales volume in BYD’s domestic market of China, whereas BYD is prevented from selling in Tesla’s domestic market of the US, one of the largest global automotive markets.

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While Yadea can’t compete with overall revenue due to its vehicles being much more affordable, that’s kind of the point. Yadea sells as many EVs in a quarter as Tesla and BYD do in a year, and for much more affordable prices.

In fact, Yadea’s recent announcement of surpassing 100 million cumulative electric two-wheelers sold globally puts both automakers’ figures in perspective. On an annual basis, Yadea consistently sells more than 6-8 million electric scooters, bicycles, and motorcycles, comfortably surpassing the combined annual sales of Tesla and BYD.

Why, then, does the media often ignore Yadea when crowning the king of EV sales? Simply put, there’s still an automotive bias that sees cars as “real” vehicles and treats two-wheelers as a side note. It’s understandable, and even my own well-meaning colleagues here at Electrek can occasionally be guilty of it. But this attitude misses an essential point: For millions of people worldwide, especially in densely populated urban centers throughout Asia and increasingly in Europe and North America, an electric scooter or bicycle isn’t just a real vehicle – it’s often the most sensible, efficient, and affordable choice.

Two-wheeled electric vehicles offer numerous practical advantages over cars. They’re dramatically more energy-efficient, cheaper to buy, cheaper to run, easier to maintain, and fit seamlessly into urban lifestyles where space is limited and traffic congestion is the norm. Electric scooters and bikes aren’t just vehicles; they’re solutions to pressing urban issues like air pollution, traffic congestion, and affordability. Most young urban commuters can’t afford a new Tesla, nor can they charge its battery in the living room of their fifth-floor apartment. But a typical e-bike or e-scooter solves both of those problems, bringing affordability and convenience to the electric vehicle market.

Moreover, Yadea reaching the incredible milestone of 100 million electric vehicle sales highlights the sheer scale and impact of electric two-wheelers globally. And that’s just one company. For comparison, Tesla recently celebrated surpassing just over 7 million total vehicles, and BYD, despite its rapid growth, is still far behind Yadea in cumulative units delivered.

The takeaway here is clear: Let’s not get caught up in automotive tunnel vision. If we truly care about electrification and sustainability, it’s vital to recognize that the global electric vehicle market is bigger – and more diverse – than cars alone. Companies like Yadea aren’t just quietly outselling Tesla and BYD; they’re providing practical mobility solutions that might just be the “better” electric vehicles that millions of people actually need.