It was in 2011. Elon Musk, who at that time was already the CEO of Tesla, gave an interview to an American TV channel to discuss electric mobility and Tesla’s long-term strategies. The journalist at the time, in particular, asked him about the state of the market and possible competitors that could stand in his way. When mentioning the BYD brand, South African businessman couldn’t stop laughingmocking comparisons between its brand and the Chinese automaker. “Have you seen the cars they make? “, he said. To the journalist’s question, “Do you consider them competitors? – he answered in the negative without hesitation.

A very discreet brand at the time

It must be said that at the time BYD had a much less rosy image than it does today. Historically specializing in the production of batteries, it entered the automotive sector only in 2003. At the beginning of its existence, the company was largely inspired by Western models. But over time the manufacturer managed to improve the quality of its models. Up to the offer of cars of an increasingly high class. If we compare the first BYD models to the current models, it is obvious that the build quality and finish have improved significantly. At that time, these vehicles were just introduced no added value compared to their western counterparts, if not their attractive price. As for purely electric models, the assortment was in its infancy. In 2011, it offered only one model: e6, a small compact crossover distributed in several markets around the world.

The new electric world champion

There was a question about its distribution in the United States, so the journalist’s question is to Elon Musk. If this interview comes up again, it’s because of thisElon Musk… changed his mind. In a tweet dated May 27, the CEO of Tesla claimed this “It was many years ago. Today, their cars are much more competitive.”. A change of heart is warranted as it is now BYD the champion of Chinese car manufacturers. It is experiencing a rapid rise. In China, if in 2020 its market share was only 2%, in 2022 it reached 10.4%. The destruction of Volkswagen as the leading manufacturer in China after almost 40 years of rule ! Of the top 10 models sold in China last year, 7 of them (including the first and third) were BYDs! More globally, the brand becomes international everywhere, and establishes more and more partnerships with foreign firms. It’s a matter of Tesla, to whom it should provide batteries for the Y model from the Berlin factory. This may explain this sudden turn…