<ul><li>Tesla is back on top as the world’s biggest electric car maker.</li><li>The American company’s global deliveries went up 6.5% in the first quarter.</li><li>China’s BYD, which was the world’s top EV maker last year, slips to second place after its EV sales dropped 25.5% in Q1.</li></ul><div><div id="ads_6122441_EV_ev_us_Rectangle_rectangle_first_1775477964"></div></div><p>Tesla is the world’s biggest electric car manufacturer once again, after its delivery numbers went up in the first quarter and its main competitor, China’s BYD, recorded a double-digit dip.</p><p>The American company led by Elon Musk delivered 358,023 EVs in the first three months of 2026, a 6.5% increase over the same period last year. Meanwhile, BYD, which last year took home the crown and made headlines the world over, had a rough first quarter, with 310,389 pure EVs reaching new customers, a 25% decrease year over year.</p><section>        <span class="svg-search">                                                </span>                            <img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.motor1.com/images/static/16x9-tr.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="The Model Y is Tesla's best-selling model." width="16" height="9" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.motor1.com/images/static/16x9-tr.png"/>        <div><p>The Model Y is Tesla's best-selling model.</p></div>    <div>Photo by: Mack Hogan/InsideEVs</div></section><div></div><p>That said, BYD makes plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) too, not just all-electric cars. Overall, the Chinese company sold nearly double the number of cars compared to Tesla, with 695,772 so-called new-energy (NEVs) passenger vehicles sold in the first quarter globally, down 30% from last year.</p><p>The two companies have locked horns for the number one spot in global EV sales since 2023, when BYD first outnumbered Tesla in EV deliveries in the fourth quarter. The Chinese giant finished 2025 as the biggest EV manufacturer on the planet, but now its grip is slipping. Its cars are nowhere to be found on American roads, and the company has slowly been ramping up deliveries in Europe, where the EV market is growing stronger month after month.</p><p>In its home market, though, things are not as rosy as they used to be. The Chinese government has slashed subsidies for new EV buyers, capping a sought-after bonus at 20,000 yuan (roughly $2,905) for new car purchases. Last year, the trade-in subsidy scheme offered 12% of a new car’s price as an incentive, regardless of the car’s MSRP. What’s more, EV buyers now have to pay a 5% tax on their vehicles, whereas the previous rule exempted EVs. In other words, buyers get fewer incentives and have to pay more taxes.</p>    <hr/>    <div>        <span class="normal-label-xlarge">Tell us what you think!</span>        <div>                                                    <div>                <span class="top-counter-comments-prefix">View</span>                                    <div>                        <div></div>                    </div>                                <span class="top-counter-comments-suffix">Comments</span>            </div>        </div>    </div>    <hr/><div><div id="ads_6122441_EV_ev_us_Rectangle_rectangle_1_1775477964"></div></div><p>It’s more of the same for Tesla. Stateside, the $7,500 federal tax credit for new EVs was canceled last year, forcing all automakers, not just Tesla, to rethink their strategies. What’s more, the American company is charging forward with just two main cars in its portfolio, the Model 3 and Model Y, whereas BYD has a much more diversified lineup.</p>    <section>        <div>            <img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.motor1.com/custom/share/evus_newsletter_widget_logo.svg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="logo" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cdn.motor1.com/custom/share/evus_newsletter_widget_logo.svg"/>        </div>        <div>            <div>Stay informed with our newsletter every weekday</div>                        <div>                <div></div>                back            </div>                                             Subscribe                <span class="widget-newsletter__legal">For more info, read our Privacy Policy &amp; Terms of Use. </span>                    </div>    </section><div><div id="ads_6122441_EV_ev_us_Native_native_3_1775477964"></div></div><div><div id="ads_6122441_EV_ev_us_Native_native_2_1775477964"></div></div><section> <p>More Stuff Like This</p> <div> <div>                    BYD Has Already Built 5,000 Of Its New Megawatt 'Flash' Charging Stations </div> <div>                    BYD Has Hit A Rough Patch. It Still Plans To Sell 1.5 Million Cars Outside Of China This Year </div> <div>                    Tesla Is Sitting On A Record 50,000 Unsold EVs </div> <div>                    Tesla Sales Rebound In Q1 2026, But Fall Short Of Analyst Estimates </div> </div> </section>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <section><p><span>We want your opinion!</span></p><div><p>What would you like to see on Insideevs.com?</p>Take our 3 minute survey.</div><p>- The InsideEVs team</p></section>                                                                                                    <div>                                <div>                                    Share this Story                                </div>                                <div>                                    <ul>                            <li>                                                                                                                                            Facebook                                                                        </li>                                    <li>                                                                                                                                            X                                                                        </li>                            <li>                                                                                                                                            LinkedIn                                                                        </li>                            <li>                                                                                                                                            Flipboard                                                                        </li>                                                    <li>                                                                                                                                            Reddit                                                                        </li>                            <li>                                                                                                                                            WhatsApp                                                                        </li>                            <li>                                                                                                                                            E-Mail                                                                        </li>                                                                                    <li>                                                                                                                                                 copy                                                                        </li>                    </ul>                                </div>                                                                                                            <div>                                            <div>                                                                                                                                                                                                    <span class="top-counter-comments-label">GO TO COMMENTS</span>                                                                                                     <div>                                                        <span>(</span>                                                        <div></div>                                                        <span>)</span>                                                    </div>                                                                                            </div>                                        </div>                                                                                                </div>                                                            <div>                                    <div>                                        <span>Got a tip for us? 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TSLA

TSLT

<p>Tesla has reclaimed its position as the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with a 6.5% increase in global deliveries in Q1 2026, totaling 358,023 units. In contrast, BYD, which held the top spot last year, saw a significant 25.5% drop in sales, delivering 310,389 pure EVs. Despite BYD's overall sales of new-energy vehicles being nearly double Tesla's, the company faces challenges due to reduced government subsidies and increased taxes in China. Tesla continues to focus on its Model 3 and Model Y, while BYD's diverse lineup struggles in the current market.</p>

- Tesla has reclaimed its position as the world's largest electric car manufacturer, with a 6.5% increase in global deliveries in Q1 2026, totaling 358,023 EVs.  
- Meanwhile, China's BYD, which had topped the EV market last year, experienced a significant decline of 25.5%, delivering 310,389 pure EVs.  
- Additionally, BYD's sales of new-energy vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, also fell by 30%, highlighting challenges amid reduced government incentives in China.

Tesla Snatches Back World’s Top EV Spot After BYD Sales Plummet 25%