Elon Musk’s Not Laughing Anymore
January 2, 2026
In 2011, Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissively dismissed BYD as a competitor, even laughing at the suggestion. This reaction paralleled Steve Ballmer's initial mockery of the iPhone. However, times have changed. Today, BYD, the Chinese automotive giant, is projected to surpass Tesla in global annual sales for the first time ever.
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By Thomas Ricker