Core Insights - Tesla has been a leader in the electric vehicle (EV) market since its IPO in 2010, but competition is intensifying, particularly from BYD, which has evolved from a battery maker to a significant EV player [1][3] - BYD briefly surpassed Tesla in EV sales in Q4 2023 and continued to outperform Tesla in Q1 2025, delivering over 416,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) compared to Tesla's 336,000 [2] - The competition between Tesla and BYD is becoming increasingly fierce, with BYD's rapid growth and Tesla's recent sales decline narrowing the gap [3] Tesla Overview - Tesla is experiencing declining sales in key markets such as the U.S., Europe, and China, with CEO Elon Musk's focus on government efficiency raising concerns about his attention to the company [4] - The company has reduced its growth forecast from 20-30% to a more conservative estimate due to slowing demand and increasing competition [4] - Tesla's automotive margins are under pressure as it implements discounts and incentives to boost sales, and delays in launching an affordable model are adding to concerns [4] - The Energy Generation and Storage segment is performing well, with energy storage deployments increasing by 113% year over year in 2024, and expectations for at least 50% growth in 2025 [5] - Tesla's autonomous driving ambitions are significant, with plans to roll out unsupervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) in June 2025 and progress on its robotaxi service [6] - Financially, Tesla maintains a strong position with a long-term debt-to-capitalization ratio of around 7% and an interest coverage ratio of 27.7 [7] BYD Overview - BYD commands about one-third of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market, benefiting from a vertically integrated business model that keeps costs low [8] - The company produces lithium-iron phosphate batteries and has introduced the "Super e-Platform," which enhances range and charging speed, claiming up to 400 kilometers of range with just five minutes of charging [9] - BYD is expanding internationally, with factories in Brazil, Thailand, Hungary, and Turkey, and aims to double overseas sales to over 800,000 units by 2025 [10] - In 2024, BYD's net profit increased by 34% to RMB 40.25 billion, with revenues rising 29% to RMB 777.1 billion (approximately $107 billion) [10] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Tesla's 2025 earnings suggests a year-over-year growth of 7.85%, while BYD's estimate indicates a more robust growth of 34.55% [11][13] - Tesla's forward sales multiple is 7.08X, above its median of 6.62X, while BYD's is significantly lower at 0.95X, indicating a more attractive valuation for BYD [13] Conclusion - BYD is positioned more favorably than Tesla due to its strong domestic market presence, international expansion, cost advantages, and advancements in technology [14] - Tesla faces challenges with slowing sales, shrinking margins, and leadership distractions, while its non-automotive segments contribute a smaller portion of total revenues [15]