BYD outsells Tesla in China at the brand level several times over. But at the individual-model level, the Tesla Model Y was China's best-selling SUV in 2024 with 480,309 units, ahead of BYD's Song Plus at 418,474 and the BEV Yuan Plus at 275,223 (CarNewsChina, 20 January 2025). BYD spreads its volume across many models and both BEV and PHEV versions.
Why the Model Y Holds On
Three factors. First, the Shanghai Gigafactory's cost advantage: Tesla's local Model Y prices have been cut multiple times and now start near RMB 250,000 ($35,000), price-competitive with BYD equivalents. Second, brand: Tesla remains a foreign EV brand with mainstream desirability in China; the Model Y is a status purchase as much as a transport choice. Third, the Supercharger network, which gives the Model Y a strong charging-experience case.
The 2025 Threat: Xiaomi SU7 and Refresh
Tesla launched the refreshed Model Y "Juniper" in early 2025 with extended range and refreshed interior. But the bigger threat is competitive: Xiaomi's SU7 sedan reached high volumes within months of its 2024 launch, and Xiaomi's YU7 SUV, aimed squarely at Tesla's territory, launched in mid-2025. AutoNergy's reading is that the Model Y's lead over rivals is narrowing.
See where Tesla and BYD overlap on the China brand throne.