Tesla is the company that started the EV craze and practically opened the doors for other manufacturers to join in. While the American EV manufacturer is still regarded as one of the leading brands in the segment, it is no longer the leading company in terms of production output. During the first quarter of 2022, one company managed to produce more EVs than Tesla. No, it’s not European, nor Japanese or Korean. You guessed it - it’s from China.

Tesla Getting Beat by a Chinese Rival

The Chinese company BYD managed to sell 641,400 EVs in the first quarter of 2022, which is a new record for the brand. This allows the Chinese carmaker to assume a leading position, not just in China, but also globally. By comparison, Tesla’s production for the first quarter of 2022 amounts to 564,000 vehicles so far. Granted, BYD’s sales figure also includes Plug-in hybrids and not just pure EVs, but those are still classified as battery electric vehicles.

BYD aims to sell over 1.0 million vehicles by the end of 2022. Of those, a target of 600,000 EVs and 600,000 Plug-in hybrids has been set. While most Chinese automakers are still focusing efforts on their domestic market in China, many of them are gradually expanding towards Europe and North America. Among them are companies like Haval – Great Wall’s premium brand – which is already being sold in over 60 countries.

Chinese Brands Are Staging an Assault Against Tesla Through Mainstream Automakers

Many Chinese brands are already leveraging on partnerships with established manufacturers in order to gain a foothold in much-desired markets, such as North America. Another Chinese car company,GAC, which borrows hybrid tech for Lexus, for use in its GS8 SUV, has also entered a partnership with Stellantis, through which the 2022 Dodge Journey will be sold.

Back in 2019, BYD and Toyota agreed to establish a joint company for electric vehicle research and development. The Japanese company has a proven record with battery electric vehicles, which should help improve the perception of Chinese BEVs in markets where they are only now starting to make an appearance.

BYD stands for “Build Your Dreams” and the company’s first products were not exactly dignifying. For example, the BYD M6 was a clone of the Toyota Previa, produced between 2011 and 2017, and let’s not even talk about the BYD T6, which was a Porsche Cayenne rip-off. While many Chinese car companies were guilty of making cheap copies of established brands, BYD seems to have found its way, and their BEVs could, eventually, reach US soil.