Latest news with #FelipeMunoz
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
BYD Passes Tesla in Europe as Chinese EV Maker Gains Ground
For the first time, Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD outsold Tesla in Europe, signaling a dramatic shift in the region's EV landscape. According to new data from JATO Dynamics, BYD sold 7,231 fully electric vehicles across 28 European countries in April, edging out Tesla by just 66 units. But analysts say the significance goes far beyond the numbers. "It's a watershed moment for Europe's car market," said Felipe Munoz, an analyst at JATO. European consumers appear increasingly open to Chinese-made EVs, drawn by their lower prices, even after the European Union imposed tariffs last year to shield domestic automakers. Tesla's once-dominant position in Europe is faltering. The company's EV sales dropped a steep 49% compared to April of last year, falling to 11th place for the month. Just a year ago, Tesla ranked second in quarterly EV sales, behind Germany's Volkswagen. Now, it's struggling in major markets like Germany and the U.K., where April sales hit two-year lows. Tesla began selling in Europe more than a decade ago and opened its Berlin Gigafactory in 2022. But recent political backlash tied to CEO Elon Musk, who has poured millions into supporting President Trump and taken a controversial advisory role in Washington, may be accelerating the brand's decline abroad. BYD, short for "Build Your Dreams," has aggressively scaled up its European operations. It started selling in Norway and the Netherlands in 2022 and is now building factories in Hungary and Turkey. The Hungarian plant will help BYD avoid EU tariffs, while also serving as the automaker's European headquarters, expected to create 2,000 jobs. April sales tell a story of momentum: BYD's electric car sales surged 170% year-over-year. If you include its plug-in hybrids, sales grew more than 300%, surpassing brands like Fiat, Dacia, and Seat in some key countries. Despite BYD's gains and Tesla's slide, Europe's top EV seller last month was Volkswagen, which notched over 23,500 new electric car registrations. That figure represents a nearly 60% year-over-year increase - proof that local brands still carry weight, even as global competition intensifies. But the trend lines are clear. BYD's swift ascent in Europe, in the face of trade restrictions and growing geopolitical tensions, signals that Chinese automakers are here to stay and may soon reshape the European auto industry as we know it. BYD's narrow victory over Tesla last month may seem like a statistical blip, but it reflects deeper undercurrents in Europe's rapidly evolving EV market. With competitive pricing, expanding local operations, and a broader lineup that includes hybrids, BYD is positioning itself as a long-term player on the continent. Meanwhile, Tesla faces not only growing competition but also reputational headwinds that could further erode its foothold. As Chinese automakers grow more entrenched in Europe and legacy brands like Volkswagen fight to maintain dominance, the region's EV race is no longer a two-player contest. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla Just Got Overtaken in Europe -- And It's Not by Who You Think
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) just hit a wall in Europe's EV race. Once the poster child of electric mobility on the continent, Tesla's grip is slippingfast. Last month, Tesla sales dropped 49% year-on-year, down to just 7,165 units. The Model Y, which had been Europe's best-selling car, plunged 53%, falling to 9th place in the BEV rankings. Meanwhile, the broader market is thriving. Battery-electric vehicle registrations jumped 28%, plug-in hybrids rose 31%, and legacy players like Volkswagen are cleaning up. VW sold 23,514 EVs in the same montha 61% surgethanks to the strength of its ID lineup. And here's the plot twist: BYD (BYDDF) just passed Tesla in Europe. Yes, that BYD. With 7,231 EVs registered, the Chinese automaker edged into 10th place, leaving Tesla in the rearview mirror. That may not sound like a big gap, but the symbolism is huge. BYD only began serious operations outside of Norway and the Netherlands in late 2022. Now, it's beating Tesla on Tesla's home turfpure-play EVs. How? BYD is leaning into PHEVs, which aren't touched by Europe's new tariffs on Chinese BEVs. It's a playbook that's workingfast. This is a watershed moment, said Felipe Munoz at JATO Dynamics. And he's right. Tesla once led Europe's BEV charge. Now it's losing share to legacy giants and newcomers alike. For investors, this isn't just about one bad month. It's about momentum. Tesla built its edge on first-mover advantage, brand appeal, and scale. But those moats may be shrinking. As the market pivots to a more diversified EV landscape, the question is no longer who invented the gameit's who's winning it now. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Epoch Times
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Epoch Times
Report Says China's BYD Outsells Tesla in Europe for First Time, Experts Warn of Dumping
Chinese automaker BYD in April sold more battery electric vehicles in Europe than Tesla for the first time, according to an automobile market research firm. Experts warn that this is the result of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) ongoing dumping practices in world markets. BYD registered 7,231 new battery electric vehicles in April, which is a 169 percent year-on-year increase, according to Globally, BYD has surpassed Tesla to become the world's largest EV seller. The Chinese automaker's rapid expansion has raised concerns. The European Union has imposed higher tariffs on China-origin EVs—as much as 45.3 percent since last year—citing significant subsidies by the CCP that distort competition and disadvantage EU automakers. Despite this, overall registrations of China-origin electric cars in April rose by 59 percent year on year, reaching almost 15,300 units, according to the Jato Dynamics report. To continue its gains in the EU market and to bypass EU tariffs, BYD is building an EV production base in Hungary that will start operation in October. It's also building a factory in Turkey that is expected to start production in March 2026. When fully operational, these two factories will have a total production capacity of 500,000 cars per year. Hybrid Vehicles Meanwhile, BYD and other China-based automakers have also significantly increased their sales of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), which have not been targeted by the EU with higher tariffs. In April, BYD's PHEV sales jumped by 546 percent year on year from 1,493 units in April 2024 to 9,649 units in April 2025, 'meaning Chinese car brands now account for almost 10 percent of the total number of PHEVs registered in Europe,' Jato Dynamics reported. Related Stories 5/25/2025 5/25/2025 'It remains to be seen whether the EU will respond to the boom in Chinese-made PHEVs by imposing tariffs on these vehicles too,' Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, noted. The draw toward BYD and other China-made cars, especially EVs, in Europe is based on economic considerations, Wang Shiow-wen, assistant researcher at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told The Epoch Times on May 23, noting that the cars are relatively cheaper. 'I don't think we can conclude that BYD's European sales have surpassed Tesla based on just one month's car registrations, because according to the bar graph of the data in the report, the growth rates of electric vehicle registrations in Europe in April for Porsche, Ford, Skoda and other brands, and even China's Xpeng electric vehicle registration growth rate, all exceeded BYD,' Wang said. 'It might be more appropriate to interpret it as Tesla electric vehicle sales in Europe having dropped sharply.' Analysts have attributed declining Tesla sales since last year to CEO Elon Musk's involvement in U.S. politics, an aging model lineup, and a halt in production as the company redesigns its popular Model Y. Some consumers are also waiting for the newer Model Y to come out later this year before purchasing a Tesla. 'Tesla's reliance on a singular, brand-driven model' and 'Elon Musk's polarizing persona' have put Tesla at a disadvantage in competition with BYD in the European market, U.S.-based economist Davy J. Wong told The Epoch Times on May 23. 'BYD, on the other hand, has aggressively deployed a state-subsidized price-dumping model, sacrificing margins to gain market share,' he said. 'Crucially, its battery supply chain strategy outsources environmental risk: Europe enjoys the product while China absorbs the pollution and end-of-life battery costs, effectively subsidizing BYD's market entry.' Exploiting Gaps in EU Disunity and Policies Wong said that 'BYD's current success hinges on exploiting internal fractures within the EU.' 'Major car-producing nations like France, Germany, and Italy perceive Chinese EVs as a direct threat, while Eastern European countries such as Hungary and Serbia welcome Chinese investment as an economic stimulus,' he said. However, this is temporary, as such 'geopolitical arbitrage may yield short-term gains, but if the EU initiates a bloc-wide anti-subsidy investigation or enforces carbon footprint-based import restrictions, the regulatory environment could turn sharply unfavorable for BYD,' he said. Wong noted that 'Europe currently represents China's last major buffer zone for exports.' 'With the U.S. tightening restrictions and global demand stagnating, Europe's internal divisions and green transition vulnerabilities offer a rare exploitable space,' he said. However, this strategy of the Chinese regime 'is entirely contingent on Europe's internal disunity,' he said. 'Should the EU's political mood shift to the right or coalesce around a unified trade defense, the opening could close as swiftly as it appeared,' he said. President Donald Trump A BYD Seal U model car at the stand of the Chinese carmaker at the Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva on Feb. 27, 2024. Fabrice Coffirini/AFP However, if the United States imposes high tariffs on both Chinese and European products, 'it will prompt China and Europe to deepen trade exchanges, then China's influence on Europe's political economy may be deeper and wider,' Wang said. But Europe then may in turn be able to influence China's politics and economy, she said. 'After all, China needs the European market to make up for the lost market share in the United States,' she said. BYD's lead over Tesla in Europe in April is not a final victory, Wong said, 'but rather the product of structural asymmetries and misaligned global policy cycles.' 'The sustainability of its advantage will depend on whether BYD can adapt to Europe's evolving political climate, and whether its globalization strategy possesses the necessary resilience and responsiveness to withstand systemic shifts,' he said. Luo Ya and Reuters contributed to this report.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BYD overtakes Tesla in Europe for first time in BEV registrations
China's BYD has achieved a milestone by surpassing Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in Europe for the first time. According to a report from JATO Dynamics, BYD registered 7,231 BEVs in April, ahead of Tesla's 7,165 units. This development highlights BYD's growing presence in the European market, a key focus area for the company. Tesla experienced a 49% decline in BEV sales in Europe during April, while BYD's sales surged by 169%. Market registrations are often used as a proxy for sales, as Tesla does not disclose monthly or regional sales figures. Despite this setback, Tesla shares rose nearly 2%, reflecting investor confidence. JATO Dynamics global analyst Felipe Munoz said: "Although the difference between the two brands' monthly sales totals may be small, the implications are enormous. This is a watershed moment for Europe's car market, particularly when you consider that Tesla has led the European BEV market for years, while BYD only officially began operations beyond Norway and the Netherlands in late 2022." Tesla's challenges in Europe are evident, with registrations falling in countries like France (59%), Denmark (67%), Sweden (81%), the UK (62%), and Germany (46%). The EU imposes a 10% tariff on BYD vehicles, with an additional 17% for BEVs. However, BYD's success is not isolated. Legacy automakers like Volkswagen, BMW, and Audi are also experiencing growth in BEV sales, with increases of 61%, 5%, and 48%, respectively. Munoz added: "While the electric vehicle segment was a bright spot for Europe's new passenger car market last month, these gains were offset by significant declines among ICE vehicles.' JATO reported that BEVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) accounted for 26% of new car registrations in Europe, setting a new record. BEVs made up 17% of this total, while PHEVs represented 9%. BYD plans to expand further by building a factory in Hungary and introducing its bestselling EV, the Dolphin Surf, to Europe, priced around $26,000. "BYD overtakes Tesla in Europe for first time in BEV registrations" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Mayor
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
BYD beats Tesla in European EV sales despite EU tariffs in 'watershed moment,' report says
Though the difference between the two brands' monthly sales totals is relatively small, the implications of BYD beating out Tesla 'are enormous,' says Felipe Munoz, global automotive analyst at JATO Dynamics. Jaap Arriens | Nurphoto | Getty Images Despite incurring a higher tariff rate than Tesla , Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD sold more pure battery electric vehicles in Europe for the first time ever last month — a 'watershed moment' for the region's car market, according to a report from JATO Dynamics. New car registrations data from the automotive intelligence firm shows that BYD's Europe volumes rose 359% in April from last year as the company continues its global expansion efforts. Over the same period, Tesla reported yet another monthly drop, with total volumes down 49%, JATO said. That follows protests against CEO Elon Musk and the company in the region. JATO's data comes from 28 European nations. BYD's success in the EU comes despite the economic bloc's imposition of punitive tariffs on battery EVs made in China last October. The EU attributed the move to unfair trade practices. The punitive tariffs appeared to be favorable to Tesla, assigning its made-in-China vehicles a 7.8% duty compared with BYD's 17%. Other Chinese EV makers were given tariffs as high as about 35%. The EU also has a standard 10% car import duty.
