BYD overtook Tesla as the world’s top seller of electric vehicles (EV) at the end of last year, crowning an extraordinary rise for the Chinese carmaker.
It delivered more fully electric cars than Tesla for the first time in the three-month period to December 31, and slashed the sales lead held by Elon Musk’s company over the year as a whole.
So how did a little-known Chinese battery maker grow so quickly to become Tesla’s biggest rival?
I know their cars will likely never be sold in the U.S., so I’ll probably never have the opportunity to sit in one, let alone buy one.
I would almost guarantee they will be sold in the USA at some point in the future.
- in 1957 the first Japanese car was sold in the USA, and now Toyota is a household name
- in 1986 the first Korean car was sold in the USA, and now Hyundai is a household name
- in 2023 the first Vietnamese car was sold in the USA, though you may not have heard of Vinfast yet.
The scale of production, and the ever increasing prices of cars in the USA continuously gives way to a lower cost import.
Sure but after WWII, we became close allies with Japan. We have been close allies with South Korea since the Korean War. And after Vietnam we have become relatively close with Vietnam.
China is a direct political and economic enemy to the United States. We won’t see a Chinese car brand in the US for at least several decades.
We won’t see a Chinese car brand in the US for at least several decades.
You’re aware that Volvo and Polestar are both own by Chinese auto giant 吉利 (Geely)?
MG is owned by a Chinese company too, right?
Yep, 上海汽车集团股份有限公司 (SAIC)
Ok I’m not talking about a holding company. Volvo is still produced in Sweden and the US for US market cars. Their automotive company is still headquartered in Sweden.
BYD is not. They’re produced in China, under a Chinese brand name.
May I ask the details of your working definition of a “Chinese car”?
The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus is manufactured in Changan Hangzhou assembly plant in China for sale in the USA. Is this not a Chinese car by your definition because its a Lincoln badge? source
The 2024 Buick Envision is manufactured at a GM assembly plant in Shanghai, China. Is this not a Chinese car by your definition because its a Buick badge on the vehicle? source
If nothing else, this should probably meet the definition :
The Polestar 2 (which company owned by Geely) is manufactured in Luqiao CMA Super Factory in Luqiao, Zhejiang, China and imported into the USA. source Or does it fail it because the corporate offices for Polestar are in Gothenburg, Sweden?
I mean, good. Fuck Tesla’s overpriced bullshit approach.
In Europe Teslas are actually cheaper than any equivalent electric car. Still wouldn’t want to be seen driving one
