The economist.
Elon Musk laughed at BYD’s electric vehicle when he was asked about it in an interview 13 years ago.
You don't see them at all as a competitor?
No. Why is that?
I mean they offer a lower price point.
I don't I don't think they have a great product.
But BYD got the last laugh.
In the final quarter of 2023, the Chinese carmaker sold more EVs than Tesla, making it the world’s largest manufacturer.
These days, Chinese EVs are on the streets everywhere, from London to Lima.
But with recognition comes greater scrutiny.
At home, a price war rages on and few EV makers turn a profit.
That’s led policy makers to tackle the problem with more urgency in recent months.
Meanwhile, governments abroad are putting up road blocks to Chinese EVs.
I'm Sarah Woo, the economist China correspondent, and I'm joined by Simon Wright, our industry editor.
This week, we'll be discussing the rise and rise of Chinese EVs, and asking, what could put the brakes on their global success?
This is Drum Tower from The Economist.
Hi Simon, it's nice to see you.
Welcome to Drum Tower.
It's great to be here, thank you.
I'm really excited to have you on the show today because I remember when I first started covering China's car industry,