BYD executive says Tesla is a ‘partner’ in electrification

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An executive from Chinese automaker BYD has called Tesla a “partner” in electrifying the transportation sector, noting the U.S. company’s role in helping popularize and educate the public about electric vehicles (EVs).

In an interview between Yahoo Finance and BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li on Monday, Li told the publication she thought the global EV market couldn’t have come to exist the way it does without Tesla. She also said BYD “respected” Tesla a lot, adding that the U.S. automaker is both a “marketing leader” and an important factor in pushing the automotive industry into more sustainable technology.

“Without [Tesla], I think the global EV market could not run so rapidly,” Li said to Yahoo Finance anchor Akiko Fujita. “So we respect them a lot. I think they are a partner and also they are like a way together, we can really help the whole world. To educate the market and push the market for transaction.”

Li went on to describe automakers that make internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles as “the real competition,” adding that BYD considers itself a partner with all EV makers, including Tesla.

“The more people jumping to produce EV is better for the industry,” Li added.

In the past, Li has also called Tesla a “very respected industry peer,” seemingly echoing Tesla’s approach that leaves room for other automakers to produce and help popularize EVs — ultimately resulting in a cleaner transportation sector.

The latest statements come after BYD overtook Tesla as a global producer of electric vehicles for the first time in Q4 2023, though not for the whole year. Tesla hit its 2023 delivery guidance of 1.8 million units globally, and CEO Elon Musk responded to the situation, noting that he considers the U.S. automaker more of an AI and robotics company than just a seller of cars.

Musk has also given BYD similar praise in the past, last year saying that the Chinese automaker’s cars are “highly competitive these days.” The kind words also come as Musk has criticized many other automakers within both the gas and EV spaces, with the billionaire recently saying that Rivian and Lucid could go bankrupt in the next six quarters.

You can read the full Yahoo Finance Q&A with BYD Executive VP Stella Li here.

Tesla rivals Rivian and Lucid receive harsh prediction from Elon Musk

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us news tips at tips@teslarati.com.

BYD executive says Tesla is a ‘partner’ in electrification





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Edmunds updates Tesla Cybertruck range report after corrections from EV community

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Automotive resource company Edmunds has updated its article on the Tesla Cybertruck’s range. The correction came amidst reactions from EV community members on X, several of whom explained that the motoring media outlet had mistakenly cited the wrong range for the tires that were used in the Cybertruck test. 

Edmunds’ initial article on the Tesla Cybertruck’s range indicated that the all-electric pickup truck fell short of its 340-mile range estimate. The media company did note in its initial article that all Teslas it has tested to date had the same issue, but the Cybertruck performed the best, showing a real-world range of 334 miles versus its estimated range of 340 miles.  

“No Tesla has ever met its EPA-estimated range in our real-world testing, and now the Cybertruck falls short of Tesla’s own 340-mile estimate –– just,” the publication wrote in a post on X. 

The publication’s article quickly incited corrections from electric vehicle enthusiasts, many of whom pointed out that the Cybertruck’s 340-mile range is listed for the vehicle’s All Season tires, which would be available for purchase in 2024. Cybertrucks today are delivered with all-terrain tires, which are estimated for 318 miles of range. With this in mind, the Cybertruck actually exceeded its range estimate in Edmunds’ test. 

Corrections to the publication’s Cybertruck range article were eventually posted as a Community Note on the automotive resource company’s post. Amidst the reaction from the EV community, it did not take long before Edmunds opted to update its original article to reflect the fact that the Cybertruck actually exceeded its range estimates. 

“The Cybertruck tested was the Foundation Series on all-terrain tires, which is rated by Tesla as having 318-mile range. Our original article was based on the publicly-available range of 340 miles. The CT therefore actually exceeded its est. We have amended the original article,” Edmunds wrote in a follow-up post on X. 

While mistakes do happen when reporting about vehicles like the Cybertruck, Edmunds deserves some appreciation for quickly updating its original report and publishing a follow-up that corrects its inaccurate social media post. Unfortunately for Tesla and its media coverage, this is not always the case. This was highlighted recently in the story of a Model 3 crash that was claimed to have happened with FSD engaged. Tesla CEO Elon Musk noted that the vehicle in question did not have FSD downloaded, but reports alleging that FSD was active at the time of the crash persisted nonetheless. 

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Edmunds updates Tesla Cybertruck range report after corrections from EV community





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Tesla shares more footage of Optimus walking improvements

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Tesla has shared its latest clip of the Optimus humanoid robot, once again showing off how smoothly the bot is able to walk around.

On Saturday, Tesla’s Optimus account on X shared footage of the humanoid robot walking around one of its testing facilities, featuring the caption “Getting my daily steps in.” The robot appears to be a newer, or at least more complete, build than a similar video shared a few weeks ago, depicting the robot as it smoothly strides around the area.

The post comes just a few weeks after CEO Elon Musk shared another video of a second-generation Optimus prototype walking, showing a more stripped-back version of the technology than the current one as it similarly paced around the facility. It also comes after Tesla opened up 61 Optimus jobs earlier this month, featuring listings for manufacturing and testing engineers, along with a wide range of other related roles.

Tesla unveiled its Optimus project in August 2021, and Musk last month said that the company could begin shipping the Optimus robots as soon as next year. The robot is being designed to help eliminate dangerous, repetitive and boring tasks for humans, and Musk has also said that the first production versions of the technology will work in Tesla’s factories.

The Optimus program has come a long way since it was unveiled, with recent updates from Tesla showing that prototypes of the robots can already fold laundry, balance well, move their necks, arms and legs, and handle tasks that require fine motor skills and discernment, like sorting blocks into matching categories.

In December, Musk also said he expects Optimus to be able to thread a needle within the next year, and original claims about the humanoid robot’s cost say it could be under $20,000 once Tesla begins selling the units.

Tesla updates Optimus Bot production figures and why they might be lower than expected

What are your thoughts? Let me know at zach@teslarati.com, find me on X at @zacharyvisconti, or send us news tips at tips@teslarati.com.

Tesla shares more footage of Optimus walking improvements





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