Chinese EV BYD Dethroned Toyota in Singapore 2025 Car Sales, Signals EV Shift

Chinese EV giant BYD became Singapore’s top-selling car brand in early 2025, surpassing Toyota and far outpacing Tesla, as it accelerates international expansion amid fierce domestic price wars.
BYD electric cars waiting to be loaded on a ship stacked at the international container terminal of Taicang Port at Suzhou Port, in China’s eastern Jiangsu Province. (Photo: AFP)

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has become the best-selling car brand in Singapore for the first time, surpassing Toyota and far outselling Tesla in the first four months of 2025, according to newly released government data.

The milestone marks a significant breakthrough for BYD’s international strategy. The company is aggressively entering global markets amid intensifying price competition in China.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.