Commentary
The competition over electric cars is heating up, and China’s BYD just pulled ahead of Tesla.
BYD sold 641,000 vehicles in the first six months of the year, with Tesla selling just 564,000. Tesla only sells electric vehicles (EVs), whereas one of BYD’s strengths is not only EVs, about half of unit sales, but also plug-in hybrids useful for longer trips, heavier loads, and rural and highly-urbanized areas with less accessible charging stations.
BYD’s growth markets and supply chains are better protected than Tesla’s. As a Chinese domestic company, BYD is advantaged in sales to China’s 1.4 billion consumers. Its computer chip and battery operations are in-house, while Tesla relies on China’s battery manufacturers, including BYD itself, according to a BYD executive (whose interview was later deleted)….