BYD vs Tesla: comparison chart
Which electric car to choose between BYD and Tesla?
There are many similarities between the electric cars of these 2 automotive brands. To help you choose, here's a table comparing BYD and Tesla cars in terms ofrange and price:
| Electric cars | Autonomy (WLTP) | Catalog price |
|---|---|---|
|
BYD Atto 3 |
420 km |
43 690 € |
|
BYD Tang |
528 km |
70 800 € |
|
BYD Han |
521 km |
71 160 € |
|
BYD Seal |
Autonomy not communicated |
Price not communicated |
|
BYD Dolphin |
424 km |
28 990 € |
|
Tesla Model S |
634 km (Dual Motor all-wheel drive) |
106 490 € |
|
Tesla Model S Plaid |
600 km |
131 490 € |
|
Tesla Model 3 |
491 km (Propulsion) |
41 990 € |
|
Tesla Model X |
576 km (Dual Motor all-wheel drive) |
114 490 € |
|
Tesla Model Y |
455 km (Propulsion) |
49 990 € |
BYD and Tesla: are they really competitors?
Before answering this question, let's find out more about the Chinese car brand BYD.
Wang Chuanfu, visionary Chinese chemist and CEO of BYD, began by building batteries for telephones, making his brand the world's 3rd largest manufacturer of rechargeable batteries, after China's Ningde Time and South Korea's LD.
BYD manufactures batteries such as :
- NiMH(nickel metal hydride) batteries: this battery can be recharged using a charger,
- lithium-ion lithium-ion A lithium-ion battery is a lithium accumulator. In fact, most electric and hybrid vehicles, cameras and cell phones are equipped with lithium-ion batteries,
- NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) batteries: this electrochemical battery, which is also used in some electric cars, offers high performance in a lightweight, compact package.
In addition to batteries, the Chinese brand manufactures cabs, buses and coaches, sanitary vehicles and forklift trucks.
To answer the question of whether the BYD brand competes with Tesla, the answer is yes and no. Yes in the sense that both brands offer premium electric cars, with more or less similar designs. Yes, in the sense that both brands offer premium electric cars, with more or less similar designs.
In addition, to compete with Tesla and become the market leader, BYD plans to open 20 sales outlets with its partners in 2023 and up to 10 in France in 2025. The Chinese brand would also like to set up factories to avoid exporting vehicles, have a more efficient supply chain and delivery times, and also enable motorists to receive their electric vehicle quickly. Moreover, this strategy has been devised by BYD to deal with the consequences of the Covid-19, which affected the entire automotive market worldwide..
On the other hand, as Tesla's electric cars are powered by batteries manufactured by BYD, notably with the Model Y, we might think that these 2 automotive brands are not really competitors. This collaboration is designed to boost the Gigafactory, Tesla's automotive factory in Berlin, and thus strengthen Tesla's supply chain and reduce delivery times. supply chain and reduce delivery times.
The battery soon to be fitted on RWD versions of the Model Y will not be lithium-ion, but a "Blade" battery with LFP chemistry (lithium, iron, phosphorus). This battery will "revolutionize safety, durability and performance in the electric vehicle industry"according to BYD.
With regard to the price difference, BYD demonstrated at the April 2023 motor show that it could offer lower prices than the European industry. The sub-brand from Shenzhen sub-brand unveiled the Seagull for less than 10,000 euros.
Our experts will advise you according to your needs. Beev offers leasing of 100% electric BYD and Tesla models at the best prices, as well as recharging solutions.
What can we expect from BYD and Tesla?
BYD: ready to conquer Europe?
BYD's appearance at the Paris Motor Show last spring marked the Chinese the Chinese brand's plans to conquer Europe.. To achieve this goal, the brand plans to market top-of-the-range electric cars at knock-down prices. Here are some of the electric cars planned for the coming years:
- BYD Atto 3 (electric SUV)
- BYD Han (electric sedan)
- BYD Tang (7-seat electric SUV)
- BYD Seal (electric sedan)
- BYD Dolphin (electric compact electric)
This model will be offered in 4 versions, with prices starting at €28,990:
| Versions | Autonomy | Battery | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Active* |
340 km |
44.9 kWh |
70 kW / 96 hp |
28 990 € |
|
Boost* |
310 km |
44.9 kWh |
130 kW / 177 hp |
29 990 € |
|
Comfort |
427 km |
60.4 kWh |
130 kW / 177 hp |
33 990 € |
|
Design |
427 km |
60.4 kWh |
150 kW / 204 hp |
35 990 € |
*these first two versions will be available from 1ᵉʳ quarter 2024.
For this 100% electric compacta first export of 152 units began on July 2, 2023 in Europe, according to CarNewsChina.
To further accentuate competition with the Model Y the American bestseller of the moment, BYD is teaming up with Mercedes-Benz to launch an electric electric SUV under the Denza brand, with two models: the D9, an electric minivan, and the N7, an SUV. The price in Europe is not yet known, but the Denza has already been sold in China for between 301,800 and 379,800 yuan, or €38,317 to €48,215.
Tesla: what about the current leader?
As for Tesla, the American brand is still in the running on the market, and in fact broke a record record during the 1st quarter 2023 the Model 3 and Y were the best sellers, with 446,915 units delivered in Europerepresenting 95.87% of the company's sales! But the car that stood out from the rest was the Model Y, number 1 in Europe with 71,693 units between January and March 2023 !
If Tesla has managed such a performance, it is thanks to various actions, including the fact that the ecological bonus has been reduced as of January 1ᵉʳ, 2023from 6,000 to €5,000 for private customers and from 4,000 to €3,000 for professionals. To make these Tesla cars accessible to motorists, sales prices have been loweredto make them eligible for financial assistance.
It's a great achievement for Tesla, but Elon Musk isn't stopping there. He also wants to relaunch the Full Self Driving on his Tesla cars, an advanced autonomous driving software. This feature had already been unveiled in beta version in Canada and the USA since October 2020, then suspended and postponed several times, as this assistance technology was not yet perfected and outstripped by systems from Mercedes-Benz or even Toyota. But it was on a Twitter post that Elon Musk announced that the next version of this software would no longer be in beta:
Version 12 won't be beta
- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 27, 2023
Currently in version 11, when will version 12 of Full Self Driving be unveiled? That's something Elon Musk has yet to say.
The Tesla Roadster, a project postponed to 2024!
What's more, the Tesla Roadster which was unveiled in 2017, was due to be launched in 2020, then postponed again and again, has been re-envisioned and made available for pre-order in 2024 by the CEO of the American brand. It is now available for pre-order with a €4,000 deposit on the first payment and €39,000 within 10 days, giving a total refundable deposit of €43,000.
As for the launch date, the electric sports car will see the light of day in 2024, as announced by Elon Musk. In the meantime, some information about the car's features has already been released, including :
- acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h: 2.1 seconds
- over a 400-metre start-stop distance in 8.8 seconds
- maximum speed: over 400 km/h
- wheel torque: 10,000 Nm
- range: 1,000 km
- number of places: 4 places
You can visit the Tesla website for more information on the Roadster.
Which vehicles are eligible for government assistance?
BYD Atto 3 62kWh
Purchase price €37,990
(list price excluding bonus)
Low-cost leasing for professionals from €483 / month
- Range (WLTP): 420 km
- Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 7.3 sec
- Fast charge (from 20% to 80%): 37 min.
Tesla Model 3 Propulsion
Purchase price €39,990
(list price excluding bonus)
Leasing with no deposit for professionals from €604 / month
- Range (WLTP): 513 km
- Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 6.1 sec
- Fast charge (from 20% to 80%): 25 min.
Tesla Model Y Propulsion
Purchase price €44,990
(list price excluding bonus)
Low-cost leasing for professionals from €648 / month
- Range (WLTP): 455 km
- Acceleration (0 to 100 km/h): 6.9 sec
- Fast charge (from 20% to 80%): 25 min.
BYD vs Tesla: ecological bonus
For both brands, certain models are eligible for the ecological bonus. To be eligible, the vehicle purchased outright or second-hand must have a value less than €47,000 inc.. In some cases, the amount of this aid can be up to €7,000 for a new passenger car, and up to €1,000 for a used car. The exact amount of assistance depends on income and whether the applicant is a natural or legal person.
BYD vs Tesla: conversion bonus
In addition, you can benefit from the conversion premium. This bonus, which can be cumulated with the ecological bonus, is granted to motorists, an amount by scrapping their old polluting vehicle. This amount will enable them tobuy or lease an electric vehicle.
Entitlement to and the amount of the conversion premium depend on a number of criteria, including :
- the applicant's reference tax income (RFR), which must be less than or equal to €22,983,
- the motorization of the vehicle to be destroyed,
- the type of vehicle purchased: passenger car, van, 2 or 3-wheel motorized vehicle, motorized quadricycle,
- if the applicant lives in a low-emission mobility zone (ZFE-m), an additional €1,000 may be granted, and up to €3,000 if a local authority has granted additional assistance.
Will BYD and Tesla cars be eligible for financial aid in the next few years?
As we have already seen, the government helps private individuals and professionals by offering subsidies for the purchase of an electric vehicle. As of May 16, 2023, the government has announced a change to the ecological bonus.
According to French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, of the Chinese electric vehicles sold in Europe, "40% of the ecological bonus went to Asia". He also adds that the government has "no vocation to finance the development of factories in Asia with public funds.not to use public funds to finance the development of factories in Asia".
So, before the end of 2023, a boost will be given to vehicles and batteries made in Europe only, thus excluding aid to Chinese manufacturers.
For this, an environmental score will be awarded and here is what will be checked:
- the electricity mix used to produce an electric vehicle
- visit carbon footprint of steel and batteries
- recyclable and bio-sourced materials in electric cars
In fact, to get all this information about battery manufacture, a digital passport will be available from 2026. This passport will make it possible to measure the battery's environmental impact and trace its life cycle, from design to wear and tear.
In conclusion
To answer the initial question, competition will be fierce between these two electric car brands, as they seek to remain or become market leaders. As we saw earlier, these two brands are finding strategies to put in place, so as to stay in the race.
So yes, BYD has a chance of overtaking Tesla, but Tesla also has the potential to remain the leader in electric vehicles. We look forward to seeing how BYD electric cars perform on the market, and to giving you our verdict on BYD versus Tesla in the near future.
