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BYD Surge: China EV Giant Overtakes Tesla in Italy
3 Jan
Summary
- Italian new car sales dropped 2.12% last year to 1.53 million.
- BYD's sales in Italy surged eightfold to nearly 24,000 vehicles.
- Tesla's electric vehicle sales declined 18% in Italy during 2025.
New car registrations in Italy concluded last year with a 2.12% decrease, reaching a total of 1.53 million units. Data released on January 2, 2026, revealed a strong performance from Chinese automaker BYD, which saw its sales in Italy skyrocket by eight times, selling almost 24,000 vehicles compared to fewer than 3,000 in the prior year. This surge contributed to BYD's global success, enabling it to surpass Tesla as the world's top electric vehicle maker for the first time in 2025.
In December, the Italian market experienced a modest 2.2% year-on-year increase in new car sales, with 108,075 units registered. BYD's momentum continued into the final month, with 3,347 cars sold, marking a 428% rise and anticipation for its new Atto2 DMI plug-in model. This growth positions BYD favorably as it prepares to launch its latest offering in the first quarter of 2026.
Conversely, Tesla reported an 18% decline in its electric vehicle sales in Italy throughout 2025, despite an 85% jump in December. Market leader Stellantis, encompassing brands like Fiat and Peugeot, also saw a 5.54% decrease in registrations in December, with its market share contracting to 21.5%.
