OT: BYD electric car impressions

NikkiSixx

Senior
May 31, 2022
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So I'm currently on vacation in Bali and got some first hand experience with a BYD Chinese electric car.

For the money, I think about 20k USD it's not bad and would sell like crazy in the US if offered at that price, but the actual execution of the vehicle is not very good. I don't like Korean cars, and would say it's build quality is similar to a Kia/Hyundai, or maybe less quality than that. They tried to copy some of Tesla's thinking, but it's unoriginal and uninspiring. I asked our driver what he thought of it, a 20 something and he flat out said he did not recommend it. I didn't press him for reasons, as he didn't want to have a negative talk during our drive, but yeah he didn't like it. My wife shared with me a recent video of an electric motor falling off the rear axle of a car, while the motor was still spinning out of control as it hit the concrete forcing the motor to bounce up and flip uncontrollably.. etc.

Anyway, I don't think the auto manufacturers have much to worry about, and if anyone is thinking about buying a Chinese car someday, It seems they are not having good mid term reviews from customers in Asia.
 
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steinek11

All-Conference
Apr 18, 2004
13,659
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So I'm currently on vacation in Bali and got some first hand experience with a BYD Chinese electric car.

For the money, I think about 20k USD it's not bad and would sell like crazy in the US if offered at that price, but the actual execution of the vehicle is not very good. I don't like Korean cars, and would say it's build quality is similar to a Kia/Hyundai, or maybe less quality than that. They tried to copy some of Tesla's thinking, but it's unoriginal and uninspiring. I asked our driver what he thought of it, a 20 something and he flat out said he did not recommend it. I didn't press him for reasons, as he didn't want to have a negative talk during our drive, but yeah he didn't like it. My wife shared with me a recent video of an electric motor falling off the rear axle of a car, while the motor was still spinning out of control as it hit the concrete forcing the motor to bounce up and flip uncontrollably.. etc.

Anyway, I don't think the auto manufacturers have much to worry about, and if anyone is thinking about buying a Chinese car someday, It seems they are not having good mid term reviews from customers in Asia.
Oh, they have a lot to worry about. China has over 100 electric car makers. The best will survive. We’ll try to keep them out with tariffs, but Canada and Mexico will be filthy with them.I would not want to be a legacy auto right now.

It used to be China was terrible at innovation. They are crushing it now. I don’t know about BYD specifically, but some of these cars are unbelievable, and they can fix whatever problems they have. Chi- nuh has stolen all of Elon‘s secrets and are now improving upon them if that’s even possible.
 
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SuperBigFan69

All-American
Apr 17, 2021
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Oh, they have a lot to worry about. China has over 100 electric car makers. The best will survive. We’ll try to keep them out with tariffs, but Canada and Mexico will be filthy with them.I would not want to be a legacy auto right now.

It used to be China was terrible at innovation. They are crushing it now. I don’t know about BYD specifically, but some of these cars are unbelievable, and they can fix whatever problems they have. Chi- nuh has stolen all of Elon‘s secrets and are now improving upon them if that’s even possible.
They are using competition and capitalism to their advantage...
 
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Nuts McClanahan

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Jul 3, 2022
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Oh, they have a lot to worry about. China has over 100 electric car makers. The best will survive. We’ll try to keep them out with tariffs, but Canada and Mexico will be filthy with them.I would not want to be a legacy auto right now.

It used to be China was terrible at innovation. They are crushing it now. I don’t know about BYD specifically, but some of these cars are unbelievable, and they can fix whatever problems they have. Chi- nuh has stolen all of Elon‘s secrets and are now improving upon them if that’s even possible.
China is blowing us away in clean and renewable energy. All facets of it. Sometimes I think that the U.S. is arguing against the "horseless carriage" when it comes to some of that stuff. We're old in our ways.
 

RBigredMax1

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Jul 16, 2025
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Oh, they have a lot to worry about. China has over 100 electric car makers. The best will survive. We’ll try to keep them out with tariffs, but Canada and Mexico will be filthy with them.I would not want to be a legacy auto right now.

It used to be China was terrible at innovation. They are crushing it now. I don’t know about BYD specifically, but some of these cars are unbelievable, and they can fix whatever problems they have. Chi- nuh has stolen all of Elon‘s secrets and are now improving upon them if that’s even possible.
Elon was fine with sharing secrets of innovation at Tesla - he didn’t patent anything so others could use the technology to better society.
 
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SuperBigFan69

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Apr 17, 2021
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Elon was fine with sharing secrets of innovation at Tesla - he didn’t patent anything so others could use the technology to better society.
No patents was smart because it creates MORE electric cars, faster. Which means more sales. Even for Tesla.
 

DrAlan_Grant

Senior
Jan 30, 2019
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Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but obviously China in general will have cheaper labor and probably materials cost. Also I believe that the government subsidies or invests in EV's, so they at least for now are selling at a loss or break even which is part of why there is more innovation and investment in them in China.

Hard to say what happens if/when the government support stops. Also hard to say if is a good plan or not.
 
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steinek11

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Elon was fine with sharing secrets of innovation at Tesla - he didn’t patent anything so others could use the technology to better society.
I doubt that’s true. He wanted access to China’s markets. They had conditions on that access.
 

RBigredMax1

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I doubt that’s true. He wanted access to China’s markets. They had conditions on that access.
He has no patents at all for Tesla or any of his companies. He’s stated this publicly often and explains that he wanting to move these advancements forward and that it challenges them to stay ahead of competition through innovation.
 
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Nuts McClanahan

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Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but obviously China in general will have cheaper labor and probably materials cost. Also I believe that the government subsidies or invests in EV's, so they at least for now are selling at a loss or break even which is part of why there is more innovation and investment in them in China.

Hard to say what happens if/when the government support stops. Also hard to say if is a good plan or not.
I'm sorry for your loss.
 

oldjar07

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Oct 25, 2009
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He has no patents at all for Tesla or any of his companies. He’s stated this publicly often and explains that he wanting to move these advancements forward and that it challenges them to stay ahead of competition through innovation.
Trade secrets are better than patents in almost every way. Patents are archaic; they only kill innovation.