BYD Tops the Electric Vehicle King! Tesla, which suffered poor vehicle output, bets on Robotaxi as the 'new AI battlefield'

Is the global electric vehicle king returning to BYD? BYD has achieved over a million sales this year with low costs and a variety of models, surpassing Tesla! Musk is betting the future on AI Robotaxi, where technology, regulations, and competitive risks intertwine, reshaping the industry landscape. (Background: Tesla Robotaxi opens global registration: priority trial rides available (tutorial), when will fully automated driving be on the road in Taiwan?) (Additional background: Tesla Robotaxi trial operations in Texas, automated taxis challenge Waymo and Uber's status) The summer of 2025 is very exciting for electric vehicles, with BYD from China selling over 1 million units in the first half of this year, surpassing Tesla's approximately 720,000 units, claiming the global championship. Facing a slowdown in production, Elon Musk is pinning his hopes on AI Robotaxi, claiming that automated driving is the company's 'laser-focused' new main line, which is the focus of competition among major electric vehicle manufacturers, impacting the entire smart mobility industry. How BYD breaks through the million threshold BYD's pure electric sales in the second quarter reached 606,993 units, a year-on-year increase of 41%. Tesla's sales during the same period were 384,122 units, a quarterly decrease of nearly 14%. BYD relies on a variety of vehicle models and vertical integration to reduce costs, with the entry-level Dolphin Surf priced at only $23,000, and production costs estimated to be about 25% lower than Western manufacturers, along with global factory locations to avoid tariffs, rapidly expanding market share. Chinese electric vehicle brands have become the main force for global growth. Tesla shifts to 'mobility as a service' Tesla seems to have been prepared for the production volume forecast, shifting from selling cars to AI-driven services. In June of this year, Tesla launched Robotaxi trial operations in Austin, Texas, claiming to be 20% cheaper than existing ride-hailing services. 'The future of autonomous driving is Tesla's core focus, and for Musk, it is the same; it is crucial for investors,' said Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities. By increasing asset turnover through driverless cars, Tesla intends to maintain a high price-to-earnings ratio through software premiums. The shadow of high-leverage gambling Relying solely on a visual system for fully automated driving is still under investigation by the NHTSA, with regulations undecided. Competitors like Waymo and Zoox are poised to seize the opportunity. For Robotaxi to scale up, Tesla needs to deploy $37 billion in cash to burn through technology and expand legal operating areas while convincing investors with mileage and gross profit; if progress falls short of expectations, high-leverage gambling could backfire. BYD is ahead in manufacturing and cost curves, while Tesla is betting on AI and service models. Whoever can replicate success first and expand globally may set the rules for next-generation transportation. Related reports Musk reportedly donates $45 million monthly to support Trump, lobbying for electric vehicle policies? Tesla briefly surged 7% Musk: If the Trump 'America First' bill passes, 'America Party' will be established the next day Musk and Trump argue, 'Bezos becomes the biggest winner,' Blue Origin quietly squeezes out SpaceX's business 'BYD tops the electric vehicle king! Tesla, which suffered poor vehicle output, bets on Robotaxi as the 'new AI battlefield,' this article was first published in BlockTempo (Dongqu Dongqu - the most influential blockchain news media).