Comfortable New 12 months! It is January 2, 2026, and that is The Morning Shift — your each day roundup of the highest automotive headlines from around the globe, in a single place. That is the place you may discover a very powerful tales which can be 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 have a look at how issues are moving 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 about to overhaul Elon Musk’s Tesla because the world’s greatest vendor of electrical autos (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 automobiles 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 offered round 1.65 million autos 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 automobiles in 2025, removed from the two.25 million EVs that BYD offered. BYD has overwhelmed Tesla in gross sales earlier than, technically, however these numbers included PHEVs alongside fully-electric automobiles. Now, BYD wins with no caveats: It offered extra EVs than Tesla, finish of sentence.
2nd Gear: As Tesla gross sales plummet in every single place however Norway
Tesla is circling the gross sales drain. The corporate’s CEO appears extra centered on robotics (and, for some motive, quick meals) than really promoting automobiles, which has had a predictably detrimental impact on automobile gross sales. Properly, that, and the entire “shoving his nostril into politics” factor. In most of Europe, issues are trying dangerous for Tesla. From Reuters:
Tesla registrations fell in some key European markets in December, however surged in Norway confirming a pattern of report 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 as a consequence 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 autos, 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 autos in December resulting in a 70% drop in 2025, in keeping with Mobility Sweden.
Additionally they dropped in Portugal and Spain, by 13% to 1,207 automobiles 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 automobiles, appears to be doing worse and worse day-after-day, Tesla the inventory is doing simply fantastic. As of this writing, shares in $TSLA are literally up immediately regardless of the dangerous 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 massive oil exporter is the one which boosting Tesla gross sales, buoyed by a market that is gone nearly solely electrical. Almost each automobile offered in Norway in 2025 was an EV, and that rising tide lifted even Tesla’s boat. From Reuters:
Nearly all new automobiles 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 autos.
Oil-producing Norway’s speedy swap to battery-powered autos 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 automobiles.
Pushed by tax incentives, 95.9% of all new automobiles 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 attention-grabbing case, since you’d count on such a serious oil producer to be massive on getting of us into automobiles 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 automobiles to Germans
Germany has an entire marketplace for company-provided automobiles, and new guidelines round how a lot these automobiles 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 high restrict of about €60,000 for firm automobile leases whereas mandating speedy electrification, staff who historically choose an Audi or BMW now face a selection: settle for lower-spec European EVs or think about Chinese language options with higher vary and options on the identical value level.
Geely-owned Zeekr is betting this price squeeze will overcome German patrons’ historic desire for home manufacturers. In contrast to many Chinese language rivals which have centered on retail patrons or rental fleets, Zeekr is prioritizing the company automobile market, notably higher-margin firm autos.
I can truthfully say that I do not suppose 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 suppose I’ve ever personally recognized anybody who’s had one. Feels like they are a a lot greater deal over in Germany, if automobile firms are explicitly focusing on them as a pricing technique.
Reverse: Speeds limitless
The oil embargo that led to those pace limits was finished by March of 1974, however the pace limits themselves remained in impact till 1987. Aren’t we fortunate to dwell 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 report to make one self-titled, however it labored out right here. This album is nice.