Bill White Says: BYD Powers Tesla—And It’s the EV Investment to Watch
If you still think Tesla is untouchable in the EV space, it's time to wake up. BYD Company, China’s EV powerhouse, is now outpacing Tesla in key markets, manufacturing more vehicles, and—here’s the real kicker—providing the very batteries that keep Tesla’s machines running.
That's right: Without BYD, Tesla would be in serious trouble.
BYD: The “Everything’s Included” EV Brand
Unlike Tesla’s frustrating à la carte pricing model—where everything from advanced driver assistance to a different paint color costs extra—BYD offers a simple, all-inclusive buying experience. You choose the model and color, and that’s it. Every feature—premium interiors, cutting-edge driver-assist systems, next-gen infotainment—is included in the price.
For those tired of Tesla charging $12,000 for “Full Self-Driving” that still requires your hands on the wheel, BYD's approach is a breath of fresh air.
BYD Models and Prices: More Car, Less Cost
Here’s how BYD stacks up in the US and UK markets:
BYD Dolphin – A high-tech electric hatchback, starting at £24,090 in the UK.
BYD Seal U – A hybrid SUV that blends power with efficiency, priced from £31,093 in the UK.
BYD Seagull – A sub-$10,000 compact EV in China, with an expected UK launch at £14,000—set to be Europe’s most affordable EV.
All at prices that make Tesla’s $40,000+ starting points look outrageous.
Without BYD, Tesla Would Struggle to Build Cars
Here’s the part Tesla fans don’t want to admit: Tesla relies on BYD for batteries.
BYD’s FinDreams Battery unit is now a key supplier of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for Tesla's energy storage systems, including the Shanghai Megafactory’s Megapack production. That means Tesla’s growing energy business—crucial to its future—is now dependent on BYD.
And it gets better (for BYD, that is). Tesla has already begun using BYD’s Blade batteries in its Model Y vehicles produced in Berlin—because, simply put, they charge faster and perform better than alternatives.
So, let’s be clear: The company that Elon Musk once mocked as "not competition" is now providing the batteries that power Tesla’s expansion. That’s the kind of irony that should make investors pay attention.
BYD Is Now the World’s Best-Selling EV Brand
Tesla lost its best-selling EV title in Q4 2023, when BYD officially overtook it. Here’s how the numbers break down:
BYD 2024 all-electric vehicle sales: 1.768 million
Tesla 2024 all-electric vehicle sales: 1.79 million (down year-over-year)
Tesla barely held on to the top spot in pure EVs, but when you include plug-in hybrids (which BYD dominates), BYD sells more than twice as many vehicles as Tesla.
In short: BYD is growing, while Tesla is declining.
Investment Potential: BYD Is Undervalued Compared to Tesla
Despite BYD’s dominance in battery technology, vehicle production, and sales growth, Tesla still enjoys an absurdly high market valuation:
Tesla Market Cap: $1.145 trillion
BYD Market Cap: $114 billion
That’s a 10x difference in valuation for a company that is outperforming Tesla in multiple ways.
Tesla is priced like it's already won. BYD is priced like an underdog—despite the fact that it’s already overtaken its so-called rival in key areas. That’s a golden opportunity for investors.
Bill White Says...
"BYD is now selling more EVs than Tesla, making better batteries than Tesla, and—just to rub it in—supplying Tesla with those better batteries. If Elon Musk isn’t nervous, he should be. This is like Ford secretly making Chevy’s engines—except Chevy still thinks they’re in the lead."