In the fast-evolving world of electric vehicles (EVs), few names carry as much weight as Tesla. The American pioneer redefined the auto industry, introducing long-range EVs with over-the-air updates and autonomous driving tech. But in 2025, a new heavyweight contender is challenging that dominance — BYD (Build Your Dreams). Many are starting to call BYD the new Tesla, as the Chinese EV giant has not only overtaken Tesla in certain global sales figures but is reshaping how the world perceives electric mobility.

The question now being asked by analysts, auto enthusiasts, and investors alike: Is BYD really the new Tesla?

Let’s unpack this global power shift across innovation, sales, market presence, technology, pricing, and sustainability — and understand why BYD is commanding the spotlight in 2025.

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1. BYD’s Meteoric Rise in Global EV Sales

In the final quarter of 2023, BYD officially overtook Tesla in global EV sales, delivering over 526,000 fully electric vehicles compared to Tesla’s 484,000. While Tesla still outsold BYD in the full-year 2023 BEV (battery electric vehicle) count, BYD’s consistent growth made headlines across the industry.

Key Statistics:

• BYD 2023 Q4 BEV deliveries: 526,409
• Tesla 2023 Q4 BEV deliveries: 484,507
• BYD total 2023 vehicle deliveries (including plug-in hybrids): 3.02 million

This marked a symbolic shift. A Chinese brand, once considered a low-end manufacturer, now leads the EV charge globally.

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2. Tesla vs. BYD: Technological Innovation

Tesla is synonymous with innovation. From the advanced Autopilot system and Full Self-Driving (FSD) package to the 4680 battery cell technology, Tesla’s focus has always been pushing the tech envelope.

BYD, on the other hand, is quietly efficient. Its Blade Battery — considered one of the safest in the world — has become a core differentiator. The battery is designed to withstand nail penetration tests, high-temperature tests, and even crush tests, with minimal thermal runaway.

BYD Tech Highlights:

• Blade Battery (LFP chemistry): High safety, low cost, long cycle life
• e-Platform 3.0: Modular EV architecture optimising efficiency and range
• DM-i Hybrid system: Efficient plug-in hybrid powertrain used in cars like the BYD Qin and BYD Song Plus

Tesla Tech Highlights:

• Autopilot & FSD: Industry-leading autonomous software (still in beta)
• 4680 battery cell: Higher energy density and structural battery pack
• Supercharger Network: Over 50,000 high-speed chargers globally

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3. Design, Branding, and Appeal

Tesla’s appeal lies in its minimalist, high-tech aesthetic. Its interiors are futuristic, centred around a single large screen. It sells exclusivity, status, and Silicon Valley cool.

BYD’s approach varies by region. In China, the brand offers everything from affordable city EVs like the Dolphin and Seagull, to luxury entries like the BYD Han and the high-performance Yangwang U8 — a luxury SUV with tank-like turning.

In the UAE, BYD has launched models tailored for regional preferences, with high-tech cabins, ambient lighting, and comfort-first interiors — far more traditionally luxurious than Tesla’s interiors.

BYD’s Denza brand and Yangwang sub-brand aim to capture Tesla’s Model S and Model X market with better interior finish and broader appeal.

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4. Price & Accessibility: The Real Game Changer

BYD’s biggest edge over Tesla? Affordability.

• BYD Seagull: Launched at under AED 45,000 in China
• BYD Dolphin: Starts at AED 73,000 in global markets
• BYD Atto 3: Sold globally, including UAE, at AED 110,000–125,000

By contrast:

• Tesla Model 3 in the UAE: AED 174,990+
• Tesla Model Y: AED 204,990+

BYD’s ability to produce EVs at one-third the price of Tesla’s cheapest models is revolutionising the industry. While Tesla cuts prices in competitive markets, it cannot match BYD’s low cost structure, thanks to vertical integration and battery production in-house.

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5. Global Expansion Strategy: Where the Two Giants Differ

Tesla’s strategy is global, but limited to premium buyers. It focuses on profitability and software integration.

BYD’s approach is different. It is flooding markets with EVs across all price points, entering over 50 countries in the last two years — including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and key European markets like Germany and France.

BYD’s Global Moves:

• Opened EV production plants in Brazil, Thailand, Hungary, and Uzbekistan
• Dominating Latin America’s EV bus market
• Selling passenger cars aggressively in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East

Tesla’s Moves:

• Giga Berlin and Giga Shanghai ramping up production
• US-focused push on FSD and software subscriptions
• Major investments in AI and Dojo supercomputer

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6. Software Superiority: Tesla Still Leads

One area where Tesla continues to dominate is software.

Tesla’s over-the-air updates add new features like games, safety improvements, or even power boosts. Its FSD suite — while still controversial — remains unmatched in capabilities.

BYD is catching up with OTA updates and improved infotainment, but lags behind in perception and UX.

Tesla Software Strengths:

• Autopilot + FSD Beta
• Tesla OS – Minimalist and powerful
• Tesla Vision (camera-only system for ADAS)

BYD’s Software Progress:

• DiLink infotainment system (solid, region-customised)
• OTA capability growing
• Localised software for each region

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7. Charging Infrastructure

Tesla’s Supercharger network is a game-changer. It remains the fastest, most reliable, and most widespread EV charging network globally.

BYD does not operate its own exclusive charger network. Instead, it partners with local providers.

In the UAE:

• Tesla has a growing but brand-limited Supercharger presence
• BYD relies on DEWA, EV Labs, and other regional operators

In Europe, Tesla has opened some Superchargers to other brands. BYD benefits from this shift.

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8. Sustainability & Supply Chain

Tesla has often faced criticism for cobalt sourcing and labour practices. It has committed to transitioning to LFP batteries in some models and using ethically sourced materials.

BYD’s Blade Battery uses LFP chemistry, which avoids cobalt entirely. The company also has its own battery production lines, which reduces third-party dependence.

BYD claims a cleaner production cycle — although China’s energy mix (coal-heavy) remains a question mark.

Both companies are working on closed-loop recycling.

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9. UAE & GCC: Tesla vs. BYD Market Impact

The UAE has seen Tesla dominate early adoption. However, BYD’s recent entrance into the UAE and KSA is reshaping the EV landscape.

UAE Trends:

• BYD Atto 3 and Dolphin selling rapidly through Al-Futtaim
• Tesla Model Y & Model 3 now seen as mid-luxury options
• BYD seen as the smarter daily driver, especially among younger Emiratis and expats

In cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where EV infrastructure is growing fast, BYD’s pricing and practicality are creating a paradigm shift. Government incentives and green building initiatives are accelerating EV penetration.

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10. Investor Confidence & Market Valuation

Tesla’s market cap remains massive — over USD 500 billion as of Q2 2025.

BYD’s market cap, while smaller (approx. USD 100–150 billion), is steadily growing.

Tesla is treated as a tech stock. Investors value its AI, Dojo supercomputer, and energy products. BYD, while undervalued in Western markets, is gaining serious traction with fund managers in Asia and the Middle East.

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Verdict: Is BYD the New Tesla?

Yes — and no.

BYD is the new Tesla in the sense that it:

• Leads global EV volumes
• Dominates the affordable EV space
• Has powerful battery tech (Blade Battery)
• Is expanding globally at an aggressive pace

But Tesla is still Tesla:

• The software king
• The innovator in self-driving tech
• With the most valuable EV brand equity globally

What’s Next?

• If BYD launches a compelling software ecosystem, it could fully rival Tesla
• If Tesla cannot reduce prices, it risks losing mass-market appeal
• Expect BYD to dominate Africa, the Middle East, Latin America
• Tesla may hold on to the luxury and software crown — for now

In short, BYD and Tesla are no longer the same kind of company. Tesla is a tech-luxury AI brand. BYD is an industrial giant building EVs for the world.

Final Thought:

If the 2010s belonged to Tesla, the 2020s might just be BYD’s decade.

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Read more in our online magazine:
https://whatshotinuae.com

The all-electric sibling of Volvo, Polestar, is facing a crucial period of transformation. With a new CEO, new models hitting the market, and a new production plant in South Carolina, the question remains: will these changes be enough to halt Polestar’s decline? Industry experts suggest that the brand’s future as a stand-alone entity might be in jeopardy. Does Polestar Have a Problem?

If you’re considering buying a Polestar, it’s worth noting that many auto industry analysts and academics believe the premium EV brand may not remain independent for much longer. According to Peter Wells, a business professor and director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff University in Wales, Polestar might be better off rejoining Volvo. “Fold it back into Volvo,” Wells advises, pointing to the brand’s uncertain future.

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A Brief History of Polestar

Polestar started in 2005 as the brand name for a Volvo-tuning, gasoline-powered motorsports team based in Sweden. Ten years later, in 2015, Volvo bought the team and transformed it into an electric vehicle (EV) brand. While Polestar has operated independently of Volvo since 2017, the two companies share production facilities in Torslanda, Sweden, and are both owned by the Chinese automotive giant, Geely, which acquired Volvo in 2010.

Industry insiders like Andy Palmer, former COO of Nissan and ex-CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, believe that the task of making Polestar profitable will be a steep uphill battle. “You can’t achieve profitability through cost-cutting alone,” Palmer says. “I can easily see a conversation emerging where Polestar becomes a sub-brand of Volvo or Geely.” The challenge is that operating as a separate brand comes with significant costs, including massive marketing expenses, without the economies of scale that other brands like Tesla enjoy.

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Brand Identity Crisis

One of the key challenges facing Polestar is its identity. Palmer highlights that many people in the industry already view Polestar as simply Volvo’s electric vehicle brand. “Operating it as a separate brand doesn’t make much sense,” he adds. Polestar has sold approximately 170,000 cars since its inception, but its recent struggles raise questions about its future as a stand-alone marque.

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Earlier this year, Volvo reduced its stake in Polestar and cut funding to the brand, leaving Polestar to secure external financing. In August, Polestar raised $300 million through a one-year revolving term loan facility, following a $950 million loan from a banking syndicate led by BNP Paribas. While these loans offer a temporary lifeline, the company’s future remains uncertain, particularly as Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar’s former CEO, resigned in August after overseeing deepening losses of $1.46 billion.

Leadership Changes at the Helm

Ingenlath has been replaced by Michael Lohscheller, an automotive industry veteran with experience at Opel. In September, Jean-Francois Mady, a former senior Stellantis finance executive, joined as the new CFO, replacing Per Ansgar, who had been serving as CFO on a transitional basis. Together, Lohscheller and Mady face the difficult task of reversing Polestar’s fortunes in an increasingly competitive EV market.

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Polestar’s stock price has reflected the brand’s recent struggles. While the stock hit a high of $15 in November 2021, it closed at just 63 cents on August 7, 2024. “We have been trading below $1 for quite some time,” Ansgar said during an earnings call. The company has until early next year to address this issue, or it risks being delisted from stock exchanges.

Still, Ansgar remains optimistic, stating that increased deliveries of Polestar 3 and Polestar 4, combined with positive customer feedback, should help the stock price rebound. However, with growing losses and market competition heating up, Lohscheller and Mady have their work cut out for them to turn things around.

Sales Targets and Struggles

Polestar missed its 2023 sales target of 60,000 vehicles, managing to deliver only 54,600 units, the majority of which were the China-made Polestar 2. The company’s revenue dropped by 26% in the second quarter of this year, due to lower global sales and the need for higher discounts in an increasingly competitive EV market.

Palmer argues that while having a designer like Ingenlath as CEO was an interesting experiment, it may not have been the right move for a brand struggling to make money. “I don’t know if appointing accountants is automatically the right answer,” Palmer says, “but having executives with car industry experience that understand both financing and manufacturing is critical.”

A Shifting EV Market

With EV sales slowing globally, the challenges facing Polestar are not unique to the brand. Wells, the Cardiff University professor, points out that Polestar is just one of many premium EV brands struggling to find its footing in a saturated market. “There’s a lot of pressure in the premium EV space,” Wells says, predicting that many brands won’t survive the current downturn.

One of Polestar’s main struggles is its lack of brand differentiation from Volvo. According to Wells, “Consumers don’t know what Polestar is supposed to represent or how it differs from Volvo.” The design similarities between Polestar and Volvo models, such as the EX90 and the Polestar 3, have led to confusion among consumers. Polestar needed to establish a more distinct identity, with visual and performance differences that set it apart from Volvo.

The Road Ahead

Polestar’s new production plant in South Carolina should help it avoid tariffs imposed on China-made vehicles, as the brand seeks to boost its US sales with the launch of the Polestar 3 SUV. The plant will manufacture Polestar’s US-bound vehicles, allowing the brand to better compete in a crucial market.

Dominic Vergine, CEO of British EV startup Monumo, believes that technological advances in AI and battery technology will eventually lower production costs for EVs, which could provide an opportunity for brands like Polestar. However, Vergine cautions that time may not be on Polestar’s side, given the current market challenges.

Can Polestar Survive as a Stand-Alone Brand?

As Polestar works to navigate the evolving EV market, the question of whether it will remain a stand-alone brand looms large. Both Palmer and Wells agree that Polestar could benefit from closer integration with Volvo, given the high costs of maintaining a separate brand identity. “In a growing market, there’s room to make mistakes,” says Wells. “But in today’s depressed market, the pressure to be profitable is immense.”

While Lohscheller and Mady are tasked with stabilising Polestar, it remains to be seen whether their efforts will be enough to secure the brand’s long-term future. As Polestar gears up for the launch of new models, including the Polestar 4 SUV coupé, the coming months will be critical in determining whether the brand can carve out a place for itself in the competitive EV landscape—or if it will eventually fold back into Volvo’s fold.

Read about it more in our online magazine at https://whatshotinuae.com.

Porsche has once again propelled itself to the forefront of automotive innovation with the successful completion of its highly anticipated hybrid 911.

This marks a monumental shift for the iconic sports car, which now embraces hybrid technology, enhancing its dynamic capabilities and environmental credentials.

Set to begin mass production, this model will undoubtedly change the landscape of high-performance vehicles.

Frank Moser, Vice President of Model Line 911 and 718 at Porsche, expressed excitement about this pioneering step.

“For the first time in its illustrious 61-year history, the 911 will feature a hybrid system designed to boost the vehicle’s dynamism,” he said. Engineers rigorously tested the new hybrid system under various extreme conditions worldwide—from the icy terrains of the Arctic to the scorching heat of Dubai—ensuring its adaptability and resilience.

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The hybrid 911 notably shone during its trials on the demanding Nürburgring Nordschleife, where it outperformed its predecessor by an impressive 8.7 seconds.

Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister highlighted the hybrid’s enhanced grip and power, alongside the system’s quick response time as pivotal to its superior performance.

This model also features standard road tires and an optional aero kit, which includes a fixed rear wing that promotes greater high-speed stability.

Set to officially premiere on May 28 during a global broadcast on Porsche’s official YouTube channel, this hybrid model is not merely about maintaining Porsche’s tradition of engineering excellence—it’s about transcending it.

The car has undergone over five million kilometers of developmental driving to ensure that it meets the high standards expected of the brand.

In addition to introducing the hybrid 911, Porsche’s 2024 lineup is brimming with innovation.

This includes the third-generation Panamera and the next-gen all-electric Taycan sports car, including the Taycan Turbo GT.

The forthcoming launch of the second-generation electric Macan further underscores Porsche’s commitment to diversifying its offerings with efficient internal combustion engines, dynamic plug-in hybrids, and cutting-edge all-electric models.

The evolution of the Porsche 911 has been characterized by significant technological advancements since the debut of the water-cooled engine in the 996 generation back in 1998.

Each subsequent generation has brought improvements in efficiency and power, culminating in the current 992 generation.

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While the move to electrify such an iconic model as the 911 has received mixed reactions from purists, the new hybrid variant is poised to set a new performance benchmark in the sports car category.

This strategic shift also aligns with Porsche’s broader vision to meld high performance with environmental responsibility.

The introduction of the hybrid 911 comes as part of Porsche’s commitment to incorporate motorsport-derived technology into series-production models, offering a dual powertrain configuration that likely combines electric power at the front axle with a traditional internal combustion engine at the rear.

Although specific details of the drive system remain under wraps, the anticipation builds on how this innovative approach will redefine high-performance driving.

For enthusiasts and potential car buyers in the UAE, where luxury cars and sustainability are increasingly prioritized, the new Porsche 911 hybrid represents an exciting development.

As the region continues to embrace green technologies, vehicles like the Porsche 911 hybrid stand at the intersection of luxury and sustainability, offering you a compelling blend of performance and environmental consideration.

This model not only caters to the current market demands but also sets the pace for future trends in the global automotive industry.

You will want one, your friends will want one. We do.