BEIJING, July 2 Reuters China39;s BYD posted a 21 rise in secondquarter electric vehicle sales, closing the gap with Tesla after handing back the world39;s top EV vendor title to the U.S. rival in the first quarter.

BYD sold 426,039 EVs in the AprilJune quarter, according to Reuters39; calculations based on its monthly sales reports. That39;s around 12,000 vehicles fewer than Tesla39;s vehicle deliveries estimated for the second quarter.

Tesla is expected to report a 6 drop in AprilJune quarter vehicle deliveries on Tuesday, the first time the U.S. firm is set to post two straight quarters of decline, as it deals with stiff competition in China and slow demand due to a lack of affordable new models.

The company may again cede its EV championship to BYD if the actual results turn out to be softer than estimated, with Barclays predicting an 11 drop in secondquarter deliveries, Tesla39;s biggest ever.

Tesla has hit a speed bump after years of rapid growth that helped make it the world39;s most valuable automaker. It warned in January that deliveries growth in 2024 would be notably lower as a boost from monthslong price cuts wanes.

The EV maker has cut output of its bestselling Model Y electric car by a doubledigit percentage number at its Shanghai plant since March to address weakening demand for its aged models in China, its secondlargest market after the United States, Reuters reported in May.

By comparison, its top Chinese competitor BYD maintained steady growth in…