Not just Tesla, all established brands we know are left behind. I never understood Volkswagen's pivot from 'wait and See's to 'were inversing billions' to 'we were too late, abort'. Largest brands n terms of units, completely left behind in an emerging segment that's already dominating it's largest market (China). So many executives in the industry just didn't see the writing on the wall. I don't what GM was thinking, trying a truck as their first platform for EVs, but it's another indicator. This industry has the worst executives. Just don't see the writing on the wall.
WV seems to do amazingly in Europe so not sure what you are talking about. It is Tesla thaumt seems to be leaving the EV market with no new exciting models and making the European market hate the brand.
Let’s not forget the Japanese who decided they didn’t want to compete in EVs because they couldn’t use that platform in some of their heavy machinery so decided to get the Japanese government to push hard on hydrogen, at a time Nissan was making a nice push in EVs, which led to Nissan having to back out of EVs as well.
This is a result of over regulation in the auto industry. I always shake my head at the group of people that wants cheaper prices on goods and services, but propose regulating large companies to death.
China is winning because they don't have to work around pesky labor or IP laws. Then we have people pointing to how much better they are at business and also want all these protections.
Tesla was dead in the water when it became obvious that they couldn't make a sub-$30K car happen. They will still probably do well as a luxury brand, but China is going to fill in the demand for affordable EVs in the rest of the world outside USA/EU.
In Europe didn’t basically all brands take a hit? It was framed as Tesla falling behind but it’s more that Chinese EVs are so cheap, nothing can compete. Even within China the competition is insane, with over 100 car companies fighting to survive and giving out big discounts.
It was announced a few days ago some models of Tesla are coming to Colombia at cheaper prices than BYD and the like and people here seems to be crazy about Tesla now. Time will tell how reliable they are on our poor roads.
And that's one thing about EVs here in general - they are coming with no spare tire but a flat tire repair kit, which it's fine for small issues but may not be enough for the problems said tough roads can give to your tires.
I'm in Medellin Colombia, and frequently see BYD cars on the road. I recently had an Uber which drove a BYD car - I was seriously impressed. For those who don't know, Medellin is extremely hilly, and somewhat of a mountainous bowl. I live pretty high up, and can feel the gasoline-powered taxis seriously strain & struggle. Meanwhile, in the BYD electric vehicle, it ascended the hill so easily. Truly felt effortless.
Recently saw a Tesla setup in the mall - so it does seem like they are kicking off a marketing campaign.
When I grew up in Germany it always made me proud that 100% of taxis were Mercedes Benz. If a car can withstand the rough demands of taxi service, it has to be good. And even in South America back then German cares were ubiquitous, especially Volkswagen.
When I was in Brazil this spring[*] I rode a lot of Uber and they were 100% BYD - 100%, no exception. It's not that my head hadn't known that German auto was dead but seeing it playing out like this hit hard.
I've been riding a German electric motorbike for a couple of years, and before that, German electric mopeds.
I think there is a lot of innovation in the German electric vehicle industry. I am quite excited for BTM, my bikes manufacturer, to design and release new versions of their platform. This model is distinctly German.
Sadly the German car industry has lost its way in the EV transition and is now vainly trying to get the EU to rollback the sun setting of ICE car sales in 3035.
I think the issue is to create an ICE is a very complicated process requiring lots of specialist knowledge, skills and technologies. An EV is just much simpler, comes down to who has the cheapest batteries. Europe and Japan are great at the former, the latter no chance.
In the UK, for a very long time they were Skoda Octavias.
I know of two ex-taxis that were scrapped at about five or six years old - one was taken off the road because of a deep paint scratch down to bare metal from about half way along the front wing to the rear door, rendering it beyond economic repair - with over half a million miles on the clock each.
Neither had been outside the Greater Glasgow area since they were dropped off on the transporter.
1. Batteries - BYD has them beat
2. Self Driving tech - other players are better
3. Luxury brands already provide the luxury aspect & even better built cars
4. in the US they're being saved by US protectionism. in Europe etc - we already see the chinese brands making inroads for EV sales
Note the Mercedes as taxis in Germany are not the high end luxury car imports we are accustomed to seeing in the US. Mercedes makes a lot of more affordable cars for their domestic market we never see here!
I wonder how many clicks Reuters get on "Electric vehicle sales are booming in South America - without Tesla" vs "Electric vehicle sales are booming in South America"
There is far more to the logistics and adoption of this outside of "Tesla failed to capture the region" as the article's title eludes to.
Bribery, government corruption, risky loans, undercutting. It is well documented in the case of large infrastructure projects and the same playbook will be revealed in time.
than it's not that different than american brands. In brazil, ford was heavily subsidized by the government for more than a decade. They bribed the politians and received back in subsidies. Their cars are also expensive and their engines known for being a weak and poor version of their US counterparts.
Tariffs might keep Chinese EVs out of the US, but they don't stop US influence from fading everywhere else. South America is voting with their wallets, and 'buy American' doesn't work when the price is double and the tech is the same.
Unless the US intends to sanction every country that prioritizes value over US geopolitics, this battle is already lost.
In South America there's also no anxiety over China becoming a superpower, which may be an argument against Chinese products in the US.
In fact, China has pretty good relations with most South American countries. Likely better than the US. I wouldn't be surprised if many people view China more favorably.
>> "Chinese brands gain legitimacy, challenging Western carmakers"
Musk has been shaking around his political penis at just the same moment as the Chinese manufacturers came of age and are on course, now, to supplant Tesla completely.
And the Tesla shareholders / BoD waived through $1t pay package as a reward.
I feel like a lot of readers are missing the main point. US and European manufactures do not want to enter this low volume zero margin market. The total sales in Latin America (that includes Mexico and South America is around five million units - that is less than half of what is sold in the US each year. And at a price point of 20K it just does not make sense for American and European manufacturers given that their R&as costs are higher than Asian manufacturers and their North American models are too large and expensive for South America markets.
In addition they know that the US is a captive market as the government will not allow Chinese companies to sell their cars here due to data and security concerns.
was just at the mall down here in bogota colombia. they had a bunchof BYDs on display and honestly, they look much more compelling than what tesla is offerring these days.
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[ 5.3 ms ] story [ 43.3 ms ] threadhttps://www.best-selling-cars.com/electric/2025-half-year-eu...
China is winning because they don't have to work around pesky labor or IP laws. Then we have people pointing to how much better they are at business and also want all these protections.
https://jaecoo.co.uk/
I'm in the UK and the only new Fords I see are these huge F250/F350 which make my 4x4 (which is relatively small compared to a modern 4x4) look tiny.
https://www.best-selling-cars.com/electric/2025-half-year-eu...
And that's one thing about EVs here in general - they are coming with no spare tire but a flat tire repair kit, which it's fine for small issues but may not be enough for the problems said tough roads can give to your tires.
Recently saw a Tesla setup in the mall - so it does seem like they are kicking off a marketing campaign.
When I was in Brazil this spring[*] I rode a lot of Uber and they were 100% BYD - 100%, no exception. It's not that my head hadn't known that German auto was dead but seeing it playing out like this hit hard.
[*] northern hemisphere
I think there is a lot of innovation in the German electric vehicle industry. I am quite excited for BTM, my bikes manufacturer, to design and release new versions of their platform. This model is distinctly German.
Meanwhile the Chinese are eating their lunch.
I know of two ex-taxis that were scrapped at about five or six years old - one was taken off the road because of a deep paint scratch down to bare metal from about half way along the front wing to the rear door, rendering it beyond economic repair - with over half a million miles on the clock each.
Neither had been outside the Greater Glasgow area since they were dropped off on the transporter.
1. Batteries - BYD has them beat 2. Self Driving tech - other players are better 3. Luxury brands already provide the luxury aspect & even better built cars 4. in the US they're being saved by US protectionism. in Europe etc - we already see the chinese brands making inroads for EV sales
So yeah, to see EVs in South America without Tesla is actually newsworthy.
There is far more to the logistics and adoption of this outside of "Tesla failed to capture the region" as the article's title eludes to.
Bribery, government corruption, risky loans, undercutting. It is well documented in the case of large infrastructure projects and the same playbook will be revealed in time.
Unless the US intends to sanction every country that prioritizes value over US geopolitics, this battle is already lost.
In fact, China has pretty good relations with most South American countries. Likely better than the US. I wouldn't be surprised if many people view China more favorably.
Musk has been shaking around his political penis at just the same moment as the Chinese manufacturers came of age and are on course, now, to supplant Tesla completely.
And the Tesla shareholders / BoD waived through $1t pay package as a reward.
Dysfunctional Leadership writ large.
In addition they know that the US is a captive market as the government will not allow Chinese companies to sell their cars here due to data and security concerns.
So it does not make sense to chase tiny profits.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/byd-blows-past-rivals-tesla-1...