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Last Updated on: 3rd April 2025, 03:11 am
BYD has surged past Tesla in full electric vehicle (BEV) sales*. One thing people have been critiquing Tesla for (for a long time, not just since Elon Musk went wild with his DOGE side project) is its lack of models. Instead of rolling out new models year after year (or multiple new models a year, like many automakers do), Tesla has focused on mass production and mass sales of two models — the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y. The idea is that’s the most effective way to bring down costs, improve specs, and find more buyers. Other automakers, though, think that a more diversified portfolio of models will appeal to more buyers. That is one area where Chinese EV producers, and BYD in particular, have been excelling. They keep introducing new BEV models, and their sales have been soaring.
One of our readers, Larry Evans, made this point superbly today in response to a discussion about Tesla’s sales dropping in China and even the new Model Y’s order backlog already getting drained. “Also of note, competition is intensifying rapidly,” he noted. “For example: In the last two weeks of March, going on pre-sale but not yet delivered, from BYD alone. Only brand new BEV SUVs (not counting cars):
Sealion 05 EV
A little smaller than the Y, RWD, more efficient, less than half the price (~$16,000 starting), but offering equipment not available on the Y (refrigerator, HUD, etc.).
Fang Cheng Bao Ti 3
Slightly more than half the price (~$19,000 starting). Additional premium features (integrated drone on top spec), off-road centric, faster than the Model Y LR…
Tang L EV
Roughly the same price range and the Y ($38,000), much larger with 3 rows, 1000V platform, most powerful motor/SiC electronics (which also helps it charge faster on lower voltage chargers through voltage boost), up to 1086 hp, MW flash charging, LiDar…
Denza N9
Even more premium, massive 3-row SUV. Priced a little above a Model Y ($54k). 3-motors, air suspension, independent rear steering, etc. give it class-leading maneuverability. Faster than every other vehicle through the Moose Test that isn’t from BYD.
All include intelligent driving software that outperforms in testing the $8800 additional software from Tesla (formerly called FSD, before China made them change the misleading name).
“And that is presale launches in the last two weeks of March from one company. They will start deliveries this month. More are on the way. High and low, consumers are getting more compelling options. The Xiaomi YU7 is also on the way. Tesla’s refresh simply isn’t competitive. And it will only fall further behind. The competition isn’t slowing down.”
Great comments! We’ll see how well the Tesla Model Y does after its refresh. Deliveries have just begun. Tesla fans and shareholders are expecting a huge boost in sales. However, as Larry points out, the competition has really heated up, the market is hyper-competitive in China, and Tesla probably won’t have an easy time maintaining previous sales levels, let alone growing significantly. Competing options just keep coming week after week, and the new features and improved specs are sort of mind blowing.
*BYD delivered 416,388 BEVs in Q1 2024, while Tesla delivered 336,681 BEVs.
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