The boss of Tesla’s biggest competitor explains how BYD differs from Tesla.

BYD, often described as China’s Tesla, has become number one in electric vehicles before Elon Musk’s company and no longer wants to be constantly compared to its American rival. This is explained by his boss, who believes that the two manufacturers actually have nothing to do with each other.

Until a few years ago, Tesla dominated the electric vehicle market with no real competitors. And that’s because the company was virtually the only brand that sold zero-emission cars, and it was a huge success with its customers.

unfair competition

If the company was still around Leader in the field by 2023, she is no longer alone. We must face the emergence of Chinese manufacturers, as experts predicted. And one of them is particularly problematic. BYD became number one in the world’s electric vehicle sector in the fourth quarter of 2023. Elon Musk’s company, of course, beat Volkswagen and climbed to the third podium.

Surely everyone is still comparing the Chinese car giant, which caused a sensation at the Geneva Motor Show, with the Yangwang U8 and its American rivals. The two have a neck and neck, so they have many similarities on the outside. That much BYD is often called ‘Chinese Tesla’.. And this nickname does not please managers at the Shenzhen-based company at all. Quite the contrary. And they want it to stop.

Michael Shu, President of BYD Europe, explained this in a recent interview on the site. automotive news europe During the Geneva Motor Show. Without disparaging the American rivals of the Model Y, which was the world’s best-selling car last year, he highlights some differences between the two. To him, the two companies are reality.” two very different animals“It has little to do with it, except that we produce electric cars.

The businessman said, BYD has a broad portfolio of brands and technologies, including cutting-edge plug-in hybrids, while Tesla offers electric vehicles under a single brand.“. Elon Musk’s companies include: We only sell 100% electric vehicles. And right now, there are only four general public models for sale, and the Cybertruck isn’t on sale here yet and probably never will be.

a serious competitor

However, it is still true that the two manufacturers are neck-and-neck in competition to see who will sell the most electric vehicles in the world. because if Last year, Tesla led the way., even if Tesla maintained its lead throughout the year, this was not the case in the fourth quarter of 2023. In particular, the company will have to face sabotage at its Berlin factory, which will have a direct impact on its sales figures. And there’s a good reason why the German Gigafactory produces the Model Y, which accounts for a significant portion of the brand’s registrations.

BYD has big ambitions to maintain its leading position, among other things, by developing plug-in hybrids in Europe. With the arrival of the Seagull to compete with the Dacia Spring or even the Seal U, not to mention the range expansion, the latter, which we were able to test a few weeks ago, is preparing for the next. European deliveries begin. And it hopes to compete head-on with the Tesla Model Y.

But be careful. That’s because sales figures for the first two months of 2024 are hurting BYD. We will have to redouble our efforts to overtake Tesla and regain first place on the podium in 2024.

The Chinese giant also wants to market its luxury Denza brand here, especially the D9, which we spotted at the Munich show and recently tried. The N7 crossover and the Yangwang U8 we tested in the world preview should also arrive here. The company also plans to open its first plant in Europe, more precisely in Hungary.

The latter especially You can enjoy ecological bonus benefits. For the record, this is no longer attributed to cars produced in China since the beginning of the year, and also excludes the Tesla Model 3 and MG4.