BYD and other Chinese automakers have studied the European auto market for years. Now, it’s time to put their knowledge to the test and go all-in on the European auto market.
BYD’s strategy to take over Europe was recently revealed in a report by Reuters. The publication also shared details about how other Chinese automakers are entering the European market and their plans to beat top-selling brands like Tesla and Volkswagen in the EU’s local electric vehicle (EVs) market.
Below are the strategies BYD and Chinese automakers are implementing to deploy their vehicles in Europe.
- Understand European car consumers and their needs
- Improved marketing to increase brand awareness
- Expand dealership networks
- Build an extensive after-sales care service network, including improved service-and-repair operations.
- Protect resale values
The roads are buzzing with SUPER DM technology. The BYD SEAL U DM-i combines a range of more than 1000km with an attention to detail in every inch of its interior. It's the perfect synthesis of comfort and adventure.#BYD #BuildYourDreams #BYDSEALUDMi pic.twitter.com/gSNGtLzQV4— BYD Europe (@BYD_Europe) May 22, 2024
China Cars with Europeans in Mind
BYD and Chinese automakers have learned that adapting and importing cars from China to Europe is not enough. They have studied European car owners to understand the details they look for when purchasing a vehicle. As a result, some Chinese car brands have started designing cars from scratch for European buyers.
For instance, Chinese automakers have learned that safety ratings are important to European car owners, so they have improved their vehicles with safety as a priority.
“In China, the purchase price is important. But for European consumers, it’s not just price, but total cost of ownership, including maintenance, service, and residual values,” commented Bo Yu, JATO Dynamics’ Greater China Country Manager.
China-based car manufacturers are also strengthening and expanding repair-and-service operations to enhance after-sales care in Europe. Plus, they have started understanding the importance of resale values for European car owners.
“There are hard rules on issues like safety and that are clear, and then there are soft rules that aren’t written down. The Chinese are very eager to learn the soft rules,” said Ben Townsend, Head of Automotive at Thatcham.
Chinese Automakers’ Biggest Advantage
Electric vehicles have offered brands—both old and new—a chance to grow and expand in the transitioning auto market worldwide. Many automakers have not been phased by the EV market’s slowdown and are charging ahead in electric vehicle development. As such, EVs have become a good entry into the European market for China-based automakers.
Electric vehicles offer Chinese automakers one significant advantage in the global auto market: affordable prices.
China has also started to promote and grow its new energy vehicle (NEV) market, which includes battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The Chinese government financially supports local car companies through subsidies and its ever-expanding EV supply chain. China is ahead regarding battery-minerals mining, a critical part of the EV supply chain that affects costs.
The local government’s support has resulted in decreased EV prices, like the BYD Seagull, which is under $10,000 in China. The United States has tried to combat against Chinese EVs’ affordable prices by increasing import tariffs by 100%. Europe is expected to raise import tariffs for Chinese EV imports as well. However, the EU’s import tariffs might not be enough to dissuade consumers from affordable EV prices.
The BYD Seagull, for example, is expected to start below $20,000 in Europe even after EU tariffs. Volkswagen, one of Europe’s top car brands, doesn’t expect to launch an EV below €20,000 ($21,631) until 2027.
Equipped with a Europe-focused affordable EV, Chinese automakers have one more obstacle to tackle: brand awareness. BYD is already working on spreading its brand in Europe by participating in and funding local sporting events, like the Europe 2024 soccer championship. It is also working closely with local dealerships.
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Tesla FSD successfully completes full coast-to-coast drive with zero interventions
Tesla community members celebrated the milestone on X, and the feat earned praise from some of the electric vehicle maker’s executives.
A Tesla owner has successfully completed a full coast-to-coast drive across the United States on Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised. The trip was accomplished with zero interventions.
Tesla community members celebrated the milestone on X, and the feat earned praise from some of the electric vehicle maker’s executives.
FSD Coast-to-Coast
The coast-to-coast feat was accomplished by Tesla owner Davis Moss, who drives a stealth gray Model 3 with AI4 hardware. Based on data from the FSD database and a community tracker, the last 10,638.8 miles Moss drove in his Model 3 were completed using FSD 100% of the time. His vehicle is equipped with FSD v14.2.1.25, which was installed 12 days ago.
As per Moss in a celebratory post on X, his Model 3 was able to complete a full coast-to-coast drive across the United States in 2 days and 20 hours. His trip started at the Tesla Diner in Los Angeles, CA, and it ended in Myrtle Beach, SC. Overall, his trip spanned 2,732.4 miles.
“This was accomplished with Tesla FSD V14.2 with absolutely 0 disengagements of any kind even for all parking including at Tesla Superchargers,” Moss stated in his post. He also added in later comments that there were zero close calls during the trip.
Tesla community celebrates
The FSD milestone trip was widely lauded by members of the Tesla community, especially since a coast-to-coast drive with zero interventions has been cited by Elon Musk as a target since October 2016, when Autopilot 2.0 was unveiled. At the time, Musk initially estimated that a coast-to-coast drive across the United States should be possible by the end of 2017. Considering Moss’ feat in his Model 3, it appears that Elon Musk’s estimate was not impossible at all. It was just late.
Musk himself celebrated the milestone on X, and so did Tesla VP of AI Software Ashok Elluswamy, who wrote “World’s first fully autonomous coast-to-coast drive, done with Tesla self-driving v14. Congrats and thank you @DavidMoss!” in a post on X. The official Tesla North America account also celebrated the feat, writing “First Tesla to drive itself from coast to coast w/ FSD Supervised. 0 interventions, all FSD” on X.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk: Tesla Model Y is world’s best-selling car for 3rd year in a row
The Model Y has now established an impressive streak that would otherwise have been impossible before Tesla.
Elon Musk has announced that the Tesla Model Y has become the world’s best-selling car by volume for the third consecutive year, capping 2025 with another dominant performance.
The Model Y has now established an impressive streak that would otherwise have been impossible before Tesla.
Three years in a row
Musk posted on X: “Tesla Model Y is now officially the world’s best-selling car for the third year in a row!” The CEO’s comment echoed an update that Tesla included in its 2025 recap, which highlighted, among other things, the Model Y’s incredible streak.
The Model Y has held the title since 2023, outperforming traditional leaders like the Toyota RAV4 and Corolla thanks to its bang-for-the-buck nature and its stellar combination of practicality, performance, and tech. The Model Y is also lauded as one of the safest vehicles on the road, making it an ideal choice for families in key markets such as China.
An impressive 2025
The Model Y’s sales feat in 2025 is especially impressive considering the introduction of the vehicle’s new variant. Tesla’s changeover to the new Model Y across its global factories resulted in sales being paused for some time in the first quarter. As per Tesla’s Q1 2025 vehicle delivery and production report, “the changeover of Model Y lines across all four of our factories led to the loss of several weeks of production in Q1.”
This suggests that the Model Y’s sales remained strong in 2025 to the point where it could still claim the title of the world’s best-selling vehicle by volume, even with its sales being throttled during the first quarter of the year. It would then be interesting to see just how far the Model Y can go in 2026, especially considering the rollout of new variants like the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y L, the affordable Model Y Standard, and the top-tier Model Y Performance.
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Tesla shares epic 2025 recap video, confirms start of Cybercab production
The cinematic montage, posted by the official Tesla account on X, celebrated the company’s progress in EVs, energy, and Robotaxi development.
Tesla has released an epic year-in-review video for 2025, recapping some of its major achievements from refreshed models to autonomy breakthroughs and production ramps.
The cinematic montage, posted by the official Tesla account on X, celebrated the company’s progress in EVs, energy, and Robotaxi development while looking ahead to an even bigger 2026.
Tesla’s 2025 highlights recap
Tesla has had a busy 2025, as highlighted in the recap video. The video opened with Elon Musk explaining the company’s pursuit of sustainable abundance. A number of milestones were then highlighted, such as the rollout of FSD v14, Optimus’ numerous demos, the opening of the Tesla Diner in Hollywood, LA, the completion of the world’s first autonomous car delivery, and the launch of the Robotaxi network in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Tesla also highlighted several of its accomplishments over the year. As per the company, the Model Y was the year’s best-selling vehicle globally again, and Teslas became more affordable than ever thanks to the Model 3 and Model Y Standard. Other key models were also rolled out, such as the refreshed Model S and X, as well as the new Model Y, the new Model Y Performance, and the six-seat, extended wheelbase Model Y L.
The Megablock was also unveiled during the year, and the Supercharger Network grew by 18%. Over 1 million Powerwalls were also installed during the year, and the Cybertruck became the first EV truck to get both an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and an NHTSA 5-Star safety rating.
Cybercab production confirmed
Interestingly enough, Tesla also confirmed in its 2025 recap video that the production of the Cybercab has started. This bodes well for the vehicle, as it could result in the vehicle really being mass-produced in the first half of 2026. Elon Musk confirmed during the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting that Cybercab production should earnestly start around April 2026.
Musk has also noted that the Cybercab will be Tesla’s highest-volume vehicle yet, with the company aiming for an annual production rate of about 2 million units. “If you’ve seen the design of the Cybercab line, it doesn’t look like a normal car manufacturing line,” Musk said earlier this year. “It looks like a really high-speed consumer electronics line. In fact, the line will move so fast that actually people can’t even get close to it.”
Tesla FSD successfully completes full coast-to-coast drive with zero interventions
Elon Musk: Tesla Model Y is world’s best-selling car for 3rd year in a row
