....Elon won't last the distance as his shareholders are now demanding he either steps down as CEO or return managing the company as he should.
....the longer he continues doing what he is doing, it won't help his stock price and which may also jeopardise a margin call from banks who loaned him to buy Twitter.
BYD shares soar to record high after breakthrough, as Tesla falters Jessica SierNorth Asia correspondent
Mar 19, 2025 – 5.12pm
Tokyo | Investors are betting that BYD’s new ultra-fast charging technology will accelerate the company’s growth in China and globally, pushing its stock to a record high, as rival Tesla struggles with declining sales.
Shares in BYD rose 3 per cent on Wednesday after the electric vehicle maker unveiled its Super e-Platform, which offers charging speeds of one megawatt – twice as powerful as Tesla’s fastest superchargers. The Chinese company claims the technology can provide enough power for 400 kilometres of driving range in just five minutes, comparable to refuelling a petrol vehicle.
The Shenzhen-based manufacturer, which overtook Tesla as the world’s largest electric vehicle producer last year, has seen its stock surge 47 per cent year-to-date, reflecting growing investor confidence in its technological edge as well as a broad-based enthusiasm for Chinese stocks.
“This solves the range anxiety and makes the battery swapping problem obsolete,” said Alan Zhang, a portfolio manager at Ox Capital in Hong Kong, which has been building its position in BYD since May last year.
“We think this stock price rally is sustainable because it’s not only supported by manufacturing efficiency with a 20 per cent gross margin, but it’s also committed to strong research and development.”
Unlike BYD, Tesla faces falling sales across major markets. In February, Tesla’s Chinese sales fell 49 per cent year-on-year, according to the China Passenger Car Association. Its performance in Germany and Australia was worse, with sales declining 76 per cent and 72 per cent respectively, according to data from government and industry groups.
Some investors believe BYD’s close relationship with the Chinese government will further accelerate its momentum. BYD chief executive Wang Chuanfu recently attended a high-profile government symposium for private enterprises, which signalled the company’s favoured status.
Some believe the government’s supportive stance could potentially ease regulatory pathways for the electric vehicle maker’s ambitious plan to build over 4000 ultra-fast charging stations across China.
The charging system will initially be available in two new models – the Han L sedan and Tang L SUV – with prices starting at 270,000 yuan ($58,744).
BYD’s technological innovations extend beyond charging. The company has developed its own silicon carbide power chips and Blade lithium-iron phosphate batteries, which Tesla has adopted for some of its vehicles.
Tesla’s image problem
Tesla, on the other hand, is battle image problems connected to chief executive Elon Musk, a special adviser to US President Donald Trump.
Musk, who has been working with the Trump administration officials to slash government spending, has embraced European far-right political parties and made crude gestures that resemble a Nazi salute. This has led to a global backlash, including protests outside Tesla showrooms.
Shareholders are also worried that Musk, who last December was fighting in court to be paid a $US101 billion ($159 billion) salary package to run Tesla, is not giving enough attention to the electric vehicle group.
While industry analysts view BYD’s latest advancement as a major step forwards in EV charging, concerns remain about the strain such high-speed charging could place on power grids.
The timing of BYD’s announcement aligns with a recent share sale that aims to raise up to $US5.2 billion to support research and development and also overseas expansion. The company is building a $US1 billion factory in Indonesia, which will be completed at the end of this year.
BYD has also said it wants to hire 20,000 employees in Zhengzhou, in Henan, China’s third most populous province, in the first quarter as it boosts its production capacity to address growing global demand.
