How BYD beat Tesla | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAICESHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.How BYD beat TeslaComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsHow BYD beat TeslaOn The Vergecast: The new king of EVs, AI is coming for your health records, and the many faces of screentime.On The Vergecast: The new king of EVs, AI is coming for your health records, and the many faces of screentime.by David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceJan 20, 2026, 1:40 PM UTCLinkShareGiftDavid PierceCloseDavid PiercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.The Model S. The Mach-E. The Ioniq. The… Dolphin Surf? That’s right, friends: There’s a new biggest name in EVs, and it means you might soon be cruising down the highway in the Dolphin Surf. And you might love it.After years of Tesla dominance, a Chinese company called BYD has become the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles. On this episode of The Vergecast, The Verge’s Andy Hawkins explains where BYD came from, why its cars are so compelling, and what its rise means for the future of EVs. He also helps us figure out whether and when BYD cars might come to the US and how an influx of Chinese cars — which the influencers already love — could change the car market in a big way. For now, your Dolphin Surf will cost a small fortune, but that may not be the case forever.

Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | MoreBefore that, though, it’s time to catch up on some AI news with The Verge’s Hayden Field. We play a game of “Big Deal, Medium Deal, Small Deal” with headlines about ChatGPT Health, Claude Cowork, Anthropic’s leadership changes, the push for AI shopping, and more. (OpenAI announced its plans to start showing ads after we recorded… safe to say that one is a big deal.)After that, and after BYD, David answers a question on the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about screentime and specifically whether giving your kid an old iPhone is meaningfully different from giving them an iPad. We have thoughts, and we want to hear yours, too!If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started:Car influencers love Chinese EVs — and China loves them backTesla’s fourth quarter sales fell a lot more than expectedFrom Inside EVs: A Guide To BYD, The Chinese Automaker That Just Surpassed TeslaAnthropic wants you to use Claude to ‘Cowork’ in latest AI agent pushAnthropic shakes up C-suite to expand its internal incubatorOpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect their medical recordsGoogle brings buy buttons to Gemini and AI searchGrok is undressing children — can the law stop it?Google is taking over your Gmail inbox with AIFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsTransportationCloseTransportationPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TransportationVergecastCloseVergecastPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VergecastMost PopularMost PopularSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLHow much can a city take?Bungie’s Marathon shooter launches on March 5thAsus may have made its last phoneA second US Sphere could come to MarylandThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in PodcastsPlayGamers will learn to love AI, says Razer CEOSiri is a GeminiHow Lego’s Smart Brick worksHow TiVo killed live TVThe Vergecast Live at CES 2026: What is the point of a robot that falls over?The robots, phones, and Lego of CES 2026PlayGamers will learn to love AI, says Razer CEONilay PatelJan 19Siri is a GeminiDavid PierceJan 16How Lego’s Smart Brick worksDavid PierceJan 13How TiVo killed live TVDavid PierceJan 11The Vergecast Live at CES 2026: What is the point of a robot that falls over?David PierceJan 9The robots, phones, and Lego of CES 2026David PierceJan 6Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesJan 19It’s worse than it looks in MinneapolisTwo hours agoNetflix revises Warner Bros. bid to an all-cash offer10:21 AM UTCSony’s TV business is being taken over by TCLJan 19Gamers will learn to love AI, says Razer CEOVideoJan 19Animal Crossing: New Horizons added just enough to suck me back inJan 18Under Musk, the Grok disaster was inevitableThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

BYD’s ascendance to become the world’s largest electric vehicle seller represents a significant and complex shift within the automotive industry, effectively dethroning Tesla after years of dominance. This transformation, as detailed in “How BYD Beat Tesla,” is driven by a confluence of strategic factors encompassing production scale, pricing strategies, and a rapidly expanding model lineup, primarily focused on vehicles catering to the Chinese market. Andy Hawkins, in a Vergecast discussion, highlights BYD’s origins as a battery manufacturer and its subsequent diversification, culminating in a vertically integrated approach that grants the company considerable control over its supply chain and production costs. The company’s success isn’t merely a result of volume; BYD’s vehicles, including models like the Dolphin Surf, are perceived favorably by automotive influencers, further bolstering their appeal and driving demand.

The analysis further emphasizes the strategic impact of BYD’s pricing, which, while initially higher in certain markets, offers compelling value compared to Tesla’s offerings, particularly in key growth regions. This affordability aligns with broader market trends and consumer preferences. Moreover, the rise of BYD presents a challenge to Tesla’s established brand narrative and potentially signals a broader shift in consumer attitudes toward electric vehicle adoption. The influx of Chinese automotive brands, including BYD, and their increasing popularity could reshape the global car market, challenging existing power dynamics and demanding a reevaluation of market strategies for established players. The discussion also touches upon the implications for Tesla, necessitating adjustments in its production capacity, pricing models, and marketing strategies.

Beyond the immediate automotive market, the rise of BYD raises broader questions about the influence of Chinese manufacturing on global supply chains and technological advancements. The company’s vertically integrated approach, encompassing battery production, vehicle assembly, and software development, demonstrates a sophisticated and potentially disruptive model for automotive manufacturing. It is critical to note the inclusion of automotive influencers who validated the vehicles, creating a positive feedback loop in the market. The Vergecast incorporates a segment of “Big Deal, Medium Deal, Small Deal” that analyzes the emergence of AI related technologies, including ChatGPT Health, Claude Cowork, and Google’s AI shopping initiatives, demonstrating the rapidly transforming technological landscape and its impact on various industries.