The Numbers Are in and the Tesla Model Y Is Still the World’s Best-Selling EV, Says Analyst, They Added, “Global EV Sales Are Up 37% Year-Over-Year”

Despite a short-term drop in U.S. EV sales due to the politicized cancellation of the federal tax credit, consumers still want electric vehicles and global sales data proves it. Year over year, global EV sales grew 37% according to data compiled by CleanTechnica. 

China, the world’s first “electrostate,” continued its dominance in absolute EV sales, nearing two-thirds of the global total with records in volume. Other notable milestones are Norway, Singapore, and Vietnam setting records for market share, with Norway exceeding 80%. The Southeast Asian nations reached 40% by late 2025, showing emerging markets leading a major global shift in electric mobility. 

The continued EV sales momentum hasn’t gone unnoticed on social media, with posts like this one on the r/electricvehicles subreddit where ApprehensiveSize7662 posted:

“With the U.S. EV market still in hangover mode and China slowing down, it was up to the Rest of the World (+37% YoY) to pick up the pace, pulling plugins to a 7% growth rate in November.

There were over 2 million registrations, the second-best result ever, only behind the 2.1 million score of last September. Will December reach 2.3 million units? 

In the end, BEVs represented 20% share of the overall auto market.”

Recoil42 added:

“I'm really delighted to see the Mini/City Car [Wuling HongGuang Mini EV] class so strong in China still. The world needs more of that.”

roma258 noted that the VW ID4 is hanging on in 18th place:

ID.4 sighting, not bad! Considering the age of the platform, it's still pretty impressive. Hope they have something good cooking for the next gen.”

Global EV Growth Hit a Major Milestone

New data from Counterpoint Research shows that global electric vehicle sales surged 40% year over year in the third quarter of 2025. Fully electric vehicles reached a record high worldwide penetration rate of about 18.7%, up sharply from roughly 13% one year earlier. That jump marks a turning point for the auto industry, especially since plug in hybrid growth has been modest by comparison. EV adoption is accelerating much faster than any other powertrain category.

Tesla Is Still King

Tesla continues to dominate when sales are measured by individual models. The Model Y led global EV sales in the third quarter with more than 164,000 deliveries, followed by the Model 3 at over 77,000. Updates to the Model Y and the introduction of a long wheelbase version in China helped sustain demand. Deliveries of the long wheelbase version only began in earnest late in the quarter, suggesting Tesla’s momentum could be even stronger going into the end of the year.

The Rise of Chinese Challengers

A major surprise this quarter was the emergence of the Geely Galaxy Xingyuan as the third best-selling EV model globally. Despite being sold only in China, it already rivals Tesla’s top sellers. Geely as a group posted 51% year-over-year EV growth in the quarter and now holds roughly 10% of global EV market share. Affordable pricing paired with advanced software features has resonated strongly with Chinese buyers, especially in the budget and mid-tier segments.

BYD’s Dominance in Total Units Sold

While Tesla leads on individual nameplates, BYD remains the global volume leader. The company sold nearly 600,000 EVs in the third quarter, a 33% increase from a year earlier. Plug in hybrid sales declined, reinforcing the broader shift toward full battery electric vehicles. BYD’s strength comes from an extremely broad lineup, now exceeding 60 models, and rapid international expansion. More than a quarter of its EV sales now come from exports, with strong gains across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

China Is Driving the Global Market

China continues to be the primary engine of global EV growth, accounting for about 60% of worldwide EV sales. In November, roughly 60% of all vehicles sold in China were electric or electrified, with the majority being fully electric. Europe ranked second in EV market share, followed by the United States. Notably, EV sales outside China, Europe, and the US still grew 48% year over year, highlighting how quickly adoption is spreading worldwide.

Falling Costs and Increasing Competition

Rising competition is pushing prices down and accelerating innovation. Battery pack prices for energy storage dropped more than 40% this year, while EV battery packs declined by about 10%. Smaller players such as Xiaomi, XPeng, and Leapmotor are growing even faster than the market leaders in percentage terms. These trends are reshaping the global auto landscape and making EVs more accessible to a wider audience.

Bottom Line

The third quarter of 2025 marked a clear inflection point for electric vehicles. Global penetration is climbed rapidly, China is set the pace, and competition intensified across every segment. Tesla, BYD, and Geely each lead in different ways, while newer entrants added pressure from below. With costs falling and adoption accelerating, the current 18% global EV share looks less like a peak and more like the start of a much larger transformation.

The Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is a compact all-electric SUV that has become one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the world. It was first launched in March 2020, and quickly gained popularity thanks to its blend of range, performance, and everyday practicality. What makes the Model Y stand out among other EVs is its versatile SUV body style with optional third-row seating, long electric range, strong acceleration, and the benefit of Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network. It typically costs around $45,000 to $65,000 USD in the United States depending on the version and options selected. The Model Y is sold mainly as a crossover SUV, offering buyers a spacious interior, high ride height, and the efficiency of an electric drivetrain in a package that suits families and commuters alike. Prices and configurations vary by region, but its combination of range, tech features, cargo space, and performance has helped it appeal to a wide audience.

What Do You Think?

What do you think is really keeping the Tesla Model Y on top, price cuts, charging access, brand strength, or something else?

What do you think is driving stronger EV growth outside the US, policy, pricing, or consumer demand?

Chris Johnston is the author of SAE’s comprehensive book on electric vehicles, "The Arrival of The Electric Car." His coverage on Torque News focuses on electric vehicles. Chris has decades of product management experience in telematics, mobile computing, and wireless communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring classic wooden boats, open water swimming, cycling and flying (as a private pilot). You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn and follow his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.

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