January 1, 2026
Batteries beat bravado
China's BYD set to overtake Tesla as top EV seller
Internet says Musk fumbled the lead while 'cheap and cheerful' BYD races ahead
TLDR: BYD is set to outsell Tesla in electric cars. Commenters say Musk wasted Tesla’s head start and got distracted, while skeptics call BYD “style over substance”; many note BYD supplies Tesla batteries, stoking a fierce price-versus-quality debate that could decide who wins the EV mainstream.
China’s EV plot twist: BYD is set to leapfrog Tesla as the top seller, after BYD said it moved 2.25m battery cars last year, while Tesla sits near 1.65m. In the comments, the loudest chorus: Musk squandered the lead. Many argue Tesla’s early advantage faded as Musk juggled X, SpaceX, tunnels, and a US government role — “CEO of everything but focus.” Bargain hunters cheer BYD’s low prices and growth despite tariffs, pointing to the UK’s 880% surge for its Seal U hybrid. Mood: cheap and cheerful beats cool and costly. Tesla’s fans counter that innovation and brand still matter. And Musk’s $1tn pay package looms large.
Not everyone’s buying it. Test-drivers fire back that BYD is style over substance, doubting durability. Then the irony bombs: BYD makes batteries for Teslas, and many Teslas are built in China, prompting snark like “BYD beating Tesla with its own parts.” The front-page thread lit up with 300+ comments, memes (“Bring Your Discounts,” “Tesla tears powered by BYD,” “Doge ate my focus”), and a split: some say BYD’s takeover is inevitable; others believe Tesla can recover after late price cuts and political backlash. The EV crown feels wobbly — and very online.
Key Points
- •BYD reported 2025 battery-car sales exceeding 2.25 million, up nearly 28%, positioning it to surpass Tesla in annual EV sales for the first time.
- •Analyst’s estimates suggest Tesla sold about 1.65 million vehicles in 2025; final figures were due later on Friday.
- •Tesla cut prices on two best-selling US models in October amid a tough year, mixed reception to new offerings, and stronger Chinese competition.
- •Elon Musk’s shareholder-approved pay package could reach up to $1 trillion, contingent on long-term growth; he pledged to scale back his government role after a sales slump in early 2025.
- •BYD’s growth slowed in 2025 due to domestic competition, but it expanded abroad despite tariffs, with the UK becoming its biggest market outside China and UK sales up 880% to September.