Glad New Yr! It is January 2, 2026, and that is The Morning Shift — your day by day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from all over the world, in a single place. That is the place you may discover an important tales which are shaping the best way People drive and get round.
On this morning’s version, we’re taking a look at Tesla’s ever-dropping gross sales, in addition to BYD taking its place because the top-selling EV maker globally. We’ll additionally take a look at how issues are entering into Norway, EV-wise, and Zeeker’s plans to promote to ze Germans.
1st Gear: Tesla loses the worldwide EV gross sales crown to BYD
For years, Tesla has been the top-selling EV maker globally. It actually outlined the market, entering into pure-EV gross sales earlier than another firm did so on the identical scale, and it has been the corporate to beat ever since. Till 2025, not less than, when it was lastly overwhelmed. Now, BYD is the top-selling EV maker on the earth. The BBC has BYD’s gross sales numbers:
China’s BYD is ready to overhaul Elon Musk’s Tesla because the world’s largest vendor of electrical automobiles (EVs), marking the primary time it has outpaced its American rival for annual gross sales.
On Thursday, BYD stated that gross sales of its battery-powered vehicles rose final 12 months by nearly 28% to greater than 2.25 million.
Tesla, which is because of reveal its complete gross sales for 2025 afterward Friday, final week revealed analysts’ estimates suggesting that it had bought round 1.65 million automobiles for the 12 months as an entire.
Since that writing, although, we have gotten Tesla’s numbers in.They are a bit higher than predicted by the BBC, however not by a lot: Tesla delivered 1,636,129 vehicles in 2025, removed from the two.25 million EVs that BYD bought. BYD has overwhelmed Tesla in gross sales earlier than, technically, however these numbers included PHEVs alongside fully-electric vehicles. Now, BYD wins with no caveats: It bought extra EVs than Tesla, finish of sentence.
2nd Gear: As Tesla gross sales plummet all over the place however Norway
Tesla is circling the gross sales drain. The corporate’s CEO appears extra centered on robotics (and, for some cause, quick meals) than truly promoting vehicles, which has had a predictably detrimental impact on automobile gross sales. Effectively, that, and the entire “shoving his nostril into politics” factor. In most of Europe, issues are wanting unhealthy for Tesla. From Reuters:
Tesla registrations fell in some key European markets in December, however surged in Norway confirming a development of file gross sales in Europe’s EV trailblazer whereas the U.S. automaker’s market share crumbled throughout the remainder of the area in 2025.
Elon Musk’s EV model has seen slowing gross sales in Europe since late 2024 because of rising competitors, its growing old lineup and protests in opposition to Musk’s public reward of European right-wing political figures. Additionally it is anticipated to report a pointy drop in international fourth-quarter supply numbers afterward Friday.
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In France, Europe’s third-biggest automobile market after Germany and Britain, Tesla registrations – a proxy for gross sales – slumped 66% final month to 1,942 automobiles, information from French automobile physique PFA confirmed on Thursday.
Registrations fell 37% in France in 2025 as an entire.
In Sweden, Tesla registrations fell 71% to 821 automobiles in December resulting in a 70% drop in 2025, based on Mobility Sweden.
In addition they dropped in Portugal and Spain, by 13% to 1,207 vehicles and 44% to 1,794 respectively, official information confirmed. For 2025 as an entire, gross sales fell 22% in Portugal and 4% in Spain.
As we talked about above, Tesla’s personal numbers paint a foul image. Fourth-quarter deliveries are down 15%, whereas full-year numbers are down 9%. But, whereas Tesla, the corporate that builds and sells vehicles, appears to be doing worse and worse day by day, Tesla the inventory is doing simply advantageous. As of this writing, shares in $TSLA are literally up immediately regardless of the unhealthy gross sales information.
third Gear: Norway, for its half, simply loves EVs
Tesla’s international gross sales decline has one exception, although: Norway. Of all international locations, Europe’s huge oil exporter is the one which boosting Tesla gross sales, buoyed by a market that is gone nearly totally electrical. Almost each automobile bought in Norway in 2025 was an EV, and that rising tide lifted even Tesla’s boat. From Reuters:
Nearly all new vehicles registered in Norway final 12 months have been absolutely electrical, official information confirmed on Friday, headed by booming Tesla gross sales because the Nordic nation cements its international lead in phasing out petrol and diesel-powered automobiles.
Oil-producing Norway’s fast change to battery-powered automobiles contrasts with the remainder of Europe, the place weak demand for EVs prompted the European Union final month to reverse its deliberate 2035 ban on inside combustion engine vehicles.
Pushed by tax incentives, 95.9% of all new vehicles registered in Norway in 2025 have been EVs, with that quantity at nearly 98% in December. The annual determine was up from 88.9% in 2024, Norwegian Highway Federation (OFV) information confirmed.
Norway is such an fascinating case, since you’d count on such a serious oil producer to be huge on getting people into vehicles that use oil. Seems the nation’s satisfaction in its pure magnificence wins out, although, and EVs are closely incentivized.
4th Gear: Zeekr desires to promote firm vehicles to Germans
Germany has an entire marketplace for company-provided vehicles, and new guidelines round how a lot these vehicles can price are limiting the market. Enter Zeekr, which hopes to supply a greater providing than Germany’s personal automobile firms for that particular market. From Automotive Information:
Company price ceilings are reshaping Germany’s company-car market in ways in which favor Chinese language EV newcomers over established European manufacturers.
As fleet program bosses impose a prime restrict of about €60,000 for firm automobile leases whereas mandating fast electrification, staff who historically choose an Audi or BMW now face a selection: settle for lower-spec European EVs or contemplate Chinese language options with higher vary and options on the identical worth level.
Geely-owned Zeekr is betting this price squeeze will overcome German patrons’ historic choice for home manufacturers. Not like many Chinese language rivals which have centered on retail patrons or rental fleets, Zeekr is prioritizing the company automobile market, significantly higher-margin firm automobiles.
I can truthfully say that I do not assume anybody I do know has ever had an organization automobile. I’ve heard of them, clearly, I do know they exist, however I do not assume I’ve ever personally recognized anybody who’s had one. Seems like they seem to be a a lot greater deal over in Germany, if automobile firms are explicitly concentrating on them as a pricing technique.
Reverse: Speeds limitless
The oil embargo that led to those velocity limits was finished by March of 1974, however the velocity limits themselves remained in impact till 1987. Aren’t we fortunate to stay within the age of 85 mile-per-hour highways?
On The Radio: Purity Ring – ‘the lengthy night time’
You’ve got heard this album earlier than in TMS, and you may hear it once more! daring transfer for Purity Ring to carry off till the band’s fourth full-length file to make one self-titled, but it surely labored out right here. This album is nice.
