March 20, 2026
Gas up, comments on fire
BYD's bet on EVs is paying off as drivers ditch gas amid rising oil prices
Cheap BYDs, pricey gas: fans cheer while skeptics circle
TLDR: BYD is riding a surge in EV demand as oil prices climb, with showrooms across Asia packed. Commenters are split between praising BYD’s low prices, championing plug‑in hybrids as a practical middle ground, and poking holes in the stats—plus a side of skepticism about BYD’s books and US EV pullbacks.
Gas prices are spiking, BYD showrooms across Asia are buzzing, and the comments section is a battlefield. The news: BYD, which ditched pure gas cars in 2022 and now leads global electric sales, is seeing fresh demand as oil jumps. Manila dealers are swamped, a VinFast store is hiring just to keep up, and analysts say EVs are already cutting oil use in a big way. But the community? Oh, they’ve got thoughts.
UK readers are swooning over BYD’s low prices and solid builds, with one Brit roasting old-school brands like VW and Audi for “taking the piss” on price. Then came the hybrid détente: a proud plug‑in hybrid owner bragged about doing all their errands on battery from a basic home outlet, pitching it as a “sweet spot” for cost and weight. Cue the EV‑purist vs PHEV peace talks.
Meanwhile, the number nerds are fact‑checking the hype, warning that splashy “40% adoption” headlines often mean new sales, not total cars on the road—so the streets won’t go silent overnight. And there’s a sharp edge of skepticism: a few commenters side‑eye BYD’s accounting while noting U.S. brands are dialling back EV models just as gas spikes. Verdict: it’s a price war, a culture war, and a vibes war—powered by very real pain at the pump and very loud opinions online.
Key Points
- •BYD reports increased EV demand amid surging oil and gas prices, especially in Asia.
- •BYD stopped producing ICE-only vehicles in 2022 and became the world’s largest EV maker, ranking sixth globally in 2025 with 4.6 million EVs and PHEVs sold.
- •Dealerships in Manila and at VinFast report spikes in showroom activity and orders linked to fuel price hikes.
- •Ember estimates EV adoption avoided 1.7 million barrels/day of oil consumption last year, about 70% of Iran’s exports via the Strait of Hormuz.
- •Policies in Southeast Asia (e.g., Laos fee changes) and industry views in Thailand suggest sustained high oil prices could further boost EV demand.