Tesla Finally Dethroned By Chinese Automaker

Finally, an EV maker managed to surpass Tesla. Sort of.

Build Your Dreams (BYD) is a publicly-listed Chinese conglomerate with an automotive arm that produces EVs, PHEVs, and hydrogen-electric vehicles. It recently announced its sales figures for the first six months of the year, and it sold 641,350 NEVs. During that same period, Tesla only managed to sell 564,000 NEVs.

It's an unfair comparison because of China's classification system. NEV stands for "new energy vehicles," including EVs,插电式混合动力车和燃料电池cars. Tesla only builds pure electric vehicles.

BYD can still be proud, however. The above figure represents a 315% increase in sales over the same period last year. Tesla's sales only climbed by 46% over the same timeframe, which is still mighty impressive.

BYD's sales figures show just how big the EV market in China is. It's no small wonderStellantis is feeling threatenedby growth in the east. BYD estimates that it will sell between 1.1 and 1.2 million cars by the end of the year, of which 600,000 will be EVs. If that's true, it will dethrone Tesla, looking at the figures for the first six months.

While BYD doesn't sell itsoddly named vehiclesin the USA, it has close ties to America. The phone you're reading this on now likely uses a battery produced by one of BYD's subsidiaries. The links are only set to get stronger, as BYD is closely connected with US startup, Nuro. It also owns an iron-phosphatebattery plant in California.