World Business Report China's BYD overtakes Tesla
19 snips
Jan 2, 2026 Zak Shahan, CEO of CleanTechnica, shares insights on how BYD has surpassed Tesla, focusing on their innovative strategies and government support. Jennifer Schneider provides a deep dive into Tesla's recent sales decline while assessing market dynamics and competition. Salvo La Costa, a restaurateur, discusses the impact of US tariffs on Italian pasta, celebrating the recent easing of import costs that allows him to feature authentic dishes at his restaurant. Together, they unpack the shifting landscape of electric vehicles and international trade.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
BYD Tops Global EV Sales
- BYD sold 2.26 million battery electric vehicles in 2025 and overtook Tesla as the world's biggest electric car maker.
- Tesla's EV sales fell 9% amid two years of declining deliveries, shifting the market dynamic.
China's Policy Fueled EV Scale
- China set clear industrial policy targets and scaled EV adoption to over 50% of new vehicle sales, creating global scale advantages.
- That scale delivered cost reductions, faster R&D and rapid model rollout for firms like BYD.
Relentless Product And R&D Push
- BYD rapidly expanded product development with dozens of new models and 125,000 R&D engineers to drive innovation.
- Fast iteration and aggressive cost competition made BYD highly competitive across segments.
