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Fri, 24 Apr 2026

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 China car giant BYD says it can thrive without US

With the price of fuel rising China's BYD says it is positioning itself to benefit from the global shift away from fossil fuels.

* Chinese car makers, led by BYD, are benefiting from increased demand for electric vehicles due to rising fuel prices caused by the war in Iran.
* BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world's largest seller of electric vehicles and is expanding aggressively overseas, with a focus on markets outside the US.
* The company is struggling to meet increased demand due to insufficient capacity, but is betting on its new "flash charging" technology to overcome one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption: concern over charging speeds.
* Chinese car makers are increasingly competing on technology rather than just price, and are investing in areas such as battery storage, solar panels, and software integration.
* The US has imposed tariffs and regulatory scrutiny on Chinese EV-makers, but BYD is winning greater brand recognition in other markets, including the UK.
* Foreign carmakers like Volkswagen, Toyota, and Ford are struggling to keep pace with Chinese manufacturers and are choosing to collaborate with local firms.
* The domestic market in China is presenting ongoing challenges for BYD, with intense competition and price wars squeezing margins and hitting demand.