Car Wars: The battle between Tesla and China's BYD is already over

Bullets:

The United States has banned the imports of Chinese electric vehicles, and the American market is sheltered from low-cost EV's from China.

In every other market, however, Tesla is getting killed by Chinese carmakers.

BYD is China's most successful EV brand, and BYD's global sales are wiping out those of Tesla.

BYD has an expansive lineup of highly attractive models, from subcompact/economy to premium luxury, and is aggressively opening new production plants in Europe, South America, and elsewhere in Asia.

Tesla, meanwhile, is hoping its other investments in humanoid robots, AI, and robotaxis pay off.

Closing scene, Lingshui Landmark Lighthouse, Hainan

Resources and links:

Tesla CEO Elon Musk admits Chinese EV makers are ‘extremely good’

https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-admits-chinese-ev-makers-are-extremely-good

Reuters, Tesla CEO Musk: Chinese EV firms will 'demolish' rivals without trade barriers

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-ceo-musk-chinese-ev-firms-will-demolish-rivals-without-trade-barriers-2024-01-25/

Watch: Elon Musk Visits Tesla’s Gigafactory on China Trip | WSJ News

5 takeaways from Biden's tariff hikes on Chinese electric vehicles

https://www.npr.org/2024/05/14/1251096758/biden-china-tariffs-ev-electric-vehicles-5-things

New York Times, China’s BYD Outsells Tesla in Europe for First Time

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/business/china-byd-tesla-sales-ev-europe.html

How BYD and Chinese peers are transforming Europe’s small EV market

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3313439/how-byd-and-chinese-peers-are-transforming-europes-small-ev-market

Tesla Vs. BYD Is Barely A Contest On EV Sales. Elon Musk Bets All On Robotaxis.

https://www.investors.com/news/tesla-vs-byd-tesla-stock-ev-sales-robotaxis-elon-musk-trump/

X, How to understand BYD's massive lineup

https://x.com/lovecarindustry/status/1860999545552879617

Trendline, BYD charges ahead as Tesla slumps

https://www.trendlinehq.com/p/byd-charges-ahead-as-tesla-slumps

Mining, Tesla humanoid robot project hampered by China’s rare earth export curbs

https://www.mining.com/teslas-humanoid-robot-project-hampered-by-chinas-rare-earth-trade-curbs

BYD Sales by Model and Country Statistics (Feb 2025)

https://tridenstechnology.com/byd-sales-statistics/

Reuters, China's BYD outsells Tesla in Europe for first time, report says

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinas-byd-outsells-tesla-europe-first-time-report-says-2025-05-22/

CNBC, BYD beats Tesla in European EV sales despite EU tariffs in ‘watershed moment,’ report says

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/23/byd-beats-tesla-in-european-ev-sales-despite-higher-tariffs-report.html

BYD outsells Tesla in Europe for the first time as registrations surge in April

https://www.jato.com/resources/media-and-press-releases/byd-outsells-tesla-in-europe-for-the-first-time-as-registrations-surge-in-april

Protests against Elon Musk’s role in Trump administration swarm Tesla showrooms

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/protests-against-elon-m usks-role-in-trump-administration-swarm-tesla-showrooms

Trump-Musk Spat Creates More Problems for Tesla

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/business/trump-elon-musk-tesla.html