Is Tesla Still the Most Valuable Car Company in the World?

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Metallurgy graduate Wang Chuanfu founded BYD in 1995.  BYD is a small Chinese company focused on producing rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries more cheaply than Japanese competitors. Nearly 30 years later, the Shenzhen-based firm has become the world’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicles (EVs), even surpassing American giant Tesla (TSLA) in global sales of pure-play electric cars in the last quarter of 2023. 

But the two companies are still running neck and neck, with Tesla regaining its crown in the first quarter of 2024. 

Here’s how they compare, in four charts.

Norway, the Peace-Loving Nation

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‘Game of Thrones’ star Kristoffer Hivju takes issue with General Motors' Super Bowl ads in three response videos.

In General Motors’ Super Bowl ad, Will Ferrell is seen punching a globe while he gets angry that Norway far outranks the U.S. in electric vehicle sales. The country is used as a foil in the ad from McCann Worldgroup, which goes on to push GM’s message that its proprietary Ultium battery technology will help pave the way for broader EV adoption in the U.S.

But now Audi’s Norway division is punching back at GM and Ferrell, with help from Norwegian actor and “Game of Thrones” star Kristoffer Hivju.

Check it out.  Even Ford's Norway unit has gotten in on the fun!