Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has reportedly praised its closest Chinese rival, BYD, calling it “highly competitive.”
The billionaire’s remark came after an infamous interview it had with Bloomberg in 2011 resurfaced on the internet. That time, he mocked the Chinese EV giant while literally laughing at its electric cars.
Tesla and BYD relationship progress
Electrek noted that these two electric vehicle giants have lately become “unlikely partners.”
Tesla and BYD once did not regard one another with much respect. CEO Musk even laughed at BYD, saying, “Have you seen their car?” as an insult in the same interview. Yet, both companies have since grown to be EV powerhouses.
Indeed, these two major EV players are close rivals in the global auto industry. Still, they began to develop a close relationship as Tesla started sourcing EV battery cells from the Chinese power battery giant in 2022.
That said, Tesla reportedly equips some of its EVs with BYD’s new “Blade battery.” For those unaware, it is an LFP cell packed in the shape of a long blade.
However, recent speculations suggested that Tesla did not extend its supply contract with BYD. In response, CEO Musk clarified that the company’s relationship with the Chinese partner is “positive.”
Now, CEO Musk further clarified that his view on BYD has since reversed, even saying that its EVs are highly competitive.
“That was many years ago. Their cars are highly competitive these days.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk
In 2022, BYD outsold Tesla in terms of overall sales volume in China. However, it must be noted that BYD has a wider range of offerings, including plug-in hybrids. Meanwhile, Tesla only sells battery electric vehicles.
See Also:
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- BYD again leads Thailand’s EV sales in February, while Tesla is catching up
- Legendary US investor says BYD is outselling Tesla in China by a margin that is “almost ridiculous”
- China NEV insurance registrations for Jan 16-Jan 29: BYD 29,988, Tesla 10,852, NIO 3,435
- Top OEMs of all-electric cars by sales in 2022: BYD goes after Tesla
Nonetheless, BYD is said to also overthrow Tesla in all-electric vehicle sales as the Chinese EV giant now has a monthly delivery capacity of 100,000 units.
While CEO Musk occasionally makes fun of competitors, he also has a history of giving credit when credit is due. He has publicly supported several non-Tesla EVs over the years, including the Porsche Taycan, a Model S rival. In 2019, Musk stated that the Taycan appears to be a “good car” and that its track time at the Nurburgring was excellent.
