Leading managers of western car manufacturers $STLAM (-0.49%)
$GM (+0.62%)
$F (+0.59%)
$RIVN (+0.58%) among others, are sounding the alarm in the face of growing competition from China.

From the "Big Three" in the USA to European corporations $VOW (-0.24%)
$MBG (-0.2%)
$BMW (-0.53%) concerns are growing that Chinese manufacturers - including BYD $1211 (-0.33%) - could become an existential threat in the long term.

Ahead of a hearing of the US House of Representatives, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), which represents Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, among others, warned: "China poses a clear and imminent threat to the automotive industry in the US."

The association called on Congress to maintain existing import restrictions on certain Chinese technologies, which effectively limit market access for Chinese vehicles.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe points above all to the structural advantages of Chinese manufacturers. "It's not that the Chinese cost structure magically works. There are really two things that you can understand very clearly," Yahoo Finance quotes him as saying. Firstly, capital costs are "close to zero in most cases", as factories are heavily subsidized. Secondly, labor costs are only a quarter to a fifth of the US level. Tariffs would currently "even out" these differences, but only temporarily.

Ford boss Jim Farley also warns of the pace of development. "We are a year behind our Chinese competitors. They are now even more present worldwide," he said. In Europe, Chinese brands recently achieved a market share of around 6.1 percent - almost twice as much as in the previous year. Farley repeatedly referred to Chinese vehicles as an "existential threat" and emphasized: "They pose a major threat to the local workforce and receive huge subsidies from the government for their exports." He added: "As a country, we have to decide what is a fair playing field."

》Companies like BYD are exemplary of this rise《

The group is expanding aggressively in Europe and other markets and is benefiting from government support and vertically integrated supply chains, particularly for batteries.

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe points above all to the structural advantages of Chinese manufacturers. "It's not that the Chinese cost structure magically works. It's really two things that you can understand very clearly," Yahoo Finance quotes him as saying.

Firstly, capital costs are "close to zero in most cases", as factories are heavily subsidized. Secondly, labor costs are only a quarter to a fifth of the US level.

Tariffs would currently "even out" these differences, but only temporarily (as with all other tariffs, mainly to the detriment of US citizens; in Europe, the tariffs already have little to no effect and are being replaced by European factories anyway 🤫😅)

Ford boss Jim Farley also warns of the pace of development. "We are a year behind our Chinese competitors (to put it charitably 😂). They are now even more globally present," he said.

In Europe, Chinese brands recently achieved a market share of around 6.1 percent - almost double that of the previous year. Farley repeatedly referred to Chinese vehicles as an "existential threat" and emphasized: "They pose a major threat to the local workforce and receive huge subsidies from the government for their exports." He added: "As a country, we have to decide what is a fair playing field."

Companies like BYD are exemplary of this rise. The group is aggressively expanding into Europe and other markets, benefiting from government support and vertically integrated supply chains, especially for batteries.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra also criticized Canada's decision to allow up to 49,000 electric vehicles to be produced in China each year. "I can't explain why this decision was made in Canada," she said and warned: "This is becoming a very dangerous development."

Pressure is also growing in Europe. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume are calling for CO₂ incentives to be specifically linked to locally produced vehicles. "Europe is currently witnessing the emergence of new geopolitical rivalries," they wrote. "Trade, technology and industrial capacities are being mobilized more than ever to serve national interests. The European Union must choose a path quickly." (clearly they are already building in Europe and then the single market should be taxed 🤷🏻‍♂️🫣😂👍🏻)

Industry experts expect Chinese manufacturers to further accelerate their expansion in view of the saturation of their domestic market. For Western car manufacturers, this is not just about market share - but about the strategic future of their existence.

》Conclusion《

Whining at the highest level, first they all sleep through everything, then it's all about the money and then they wake up and whine about why nobody woke them up, that's how disenchantment with politics/lobbying works 🤷🏻‍♂️

The Chinese will literally overrun us, but cheers to the management, lobbying and, above all, the politicians who made this possible in the first place 🤫👍🏻😂

The Chinese car manufacturers BYD $1211 (-0.33%) and Geely $175 (+0.42%) are among the final bidders to buy an existing car plant from $MBG (-0.2%) /$NSANY in Mexico.

With a takeover, the companies could secure a direct production site in North America and for BYD it would be the largest plant outside of China.

The plant is located in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes and is up for sale as part of the strategic realignment of the previous owners.

In addition to BYD and Geely, the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast $VFS (+0.76%) is also said to be among the interested parties, according to Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter.

Acquiring the existing production facility would allow Chinese manufacturers to build up production capacity in North America more quickly without having to build a new factory from scratch and Mexico is considered a strategically attractive location due to its proximity to the US market and its established automotive supply chains.

The increased expansion efforts of Chinese car manufacturers are linked to global trade barriers and customs issues. Local production in Mexico could therefore help to circumvent potential import duties and strengthen competitiveness in the North American market.

Whether and to which bidder the plant will ultimately be sold, however, remains to be seen.

To celebrate the new year of the fire horse, I thought I'd grab a few more shares $1211 (-0.33%)

To all those celebrating too, Xīnnián kuàilè!

The Chinese giant BYD $1211 (-0.33%) delivered its first two all-electric ETM6 trucks to the German logistics company Dachser for its activities in Spain on Tuesday.

The Kempten-based company is continuing the electrification of its fleet in Spain and on the old continent, which is "an important pillar of its sustainability strategy," explained Alberto Gil, Team Leader Energy Management & Sustainability at Dachser.

The delivered vehicles will be used in Barcelona and Valencia, "two strategic logistics centers" within Dachser's Spanish distribution network, as reported by the local automotive portal Transporte3.

Both companies have been working together since September last year and have subjected the ETM6 to several tests "under real operating conditions", according to Gil.

The 7.5-ton truck with a payload of 3,810 kg or 3,740 kg is equipped with a 255-kWh battery.

It enables a WLTP range of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) and can be charged from 20 % to 100 % in two hours.

The model also has a lane departure warning system, collision warning system, 360-degree view and adaptive cruise control.

In a LinkedIn post, BYD described the handover of the new trucks as an "important milestone for BYD Trucks Europe and Spain in particular", adding that it marked the "starting point of a collaboration with one of Europe's leading logistics groups".

The Chinese giant emphasized that the contract marks the beginning of a "long-term partnership" aimed at accelerating the transition to "cleaner, smarter logistics across Europe".

In this video, I analyze two sleeping giants with exceptionally strong fundamentals and high undervaluation: BYD and Netflix. Both shares are currently trading well below their fair value and, in my view, offer attractive opportunities for investors and swing traders: My current price targets:

• $1211 (-0.33%) : up to +118 % potential from the current price level
• $NFLX (+0.5%) : up to +88 % potential from the current price level

I analyze both stocks fundamentally and chart-technically in detail and show my specific buy, sell and target zones as well as my risk management.

Netflix analysis - Fundamental data & news Netflix is currently undervalued at around 23 % below my fair value. The company continues to impress with

• strong subscriber growth
• high margins
• increasing free cash flow generation
• dominant market position in the streaming sector

I also discuss the current news flow on the possible takeover of Warner Bros., which could strategically position Netflix even more strongly in the content sector and open up new growth potential in the long term. I analyze the chart:

• important supports
• breakout zones
• my entry and hedging setup
• realistic target areas

🚗 BYD analysis - growth & expansion BYD shares are currently significantly undervalued at a discount of around 48% to fair value. The company is fundamentally convincing due to

• strong market position in the e-mobility sector
• vertical integration
• high innovative strength
• increasing production capacities

An important growth driver is the planned launch of new production plants in Hungary and Turkey in the middle of this year. This expansion will massively strengthen the company's presence in Europe and can improve margins and supply chains in the long term. I show in the video:

• why BYD can continue to grow structurally
• which chart zones are decisive
• where my long setup starts
• how I derive my price target of +118%

In this video you will learn:

✔️ How I calculate fair values

✔️ How I combine value + chart technique

✔️ Where my optimal entries are

✔️ How I enter conservatively vs. aggressively

✔️ What risks currently exist

✔️ When I hedge profits

This video is aimed at active traders and long-term investors who want to systematically trade undervalued quality stocks.

Value trap or value opportunity, what do you think?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVtqUduj00A

BYD $1211 (-0.33%) is planning to launch its first plant in Europe, is expanding its sales network, is establishing a network of fast chargers and is attacking the premium market with brands such as Denza.

A new version of the Denza Z9 underpins BYD's claim to market leadership in electric cars in all classes. The top model Z9 GT, also planned for Europe, comes in its new version with a new motor setup and new batteries - for maximum performance and range.

》Denza attacks the flagship electric cars of European manufacturers《

The large battery has a whopping 122.5 kWh, enabling the Z9 GT to cover 1,036 kilometers according to CLTC standards. According to the local WLTP standard, that's probably around 850 kilometers. That's still a big thing, because very few electric cars currently come close to that, and it's usually significantly less.

Apart from that, Denza is also offering new motors, a setup consisting of a total of three electric motors is intended to appeal to sporty customers who are interested in over 1,140 hp. The high-performance model consists of a 230 kW motor and two motors with 310 kW each.

The Chinese car and battery manufacturer BYD $1211 (-0.33%) reports progress with new types of batteries that could make electric cars cheaper in the future.

This involves the third-generation sodium-ion platform on the one hand and sulphide solid-state batteries on the other.

Even though BYD is primarily known as an e-car manufacturer, the Shenzhen-based company is also the second largest battery producer in the world behind CATL $3750 (+0.35%)

According to market researcher SNE Research, BYD achieved an annual production of 194.8 GWh last year - 27.7 percent more than in 2024.

In order to remain at the top, BYD also maintains large research facilities for batteries, which have now reached important milestones.

On the one hand, this involves sodium-ion batteries, which are expected to bring about a clear cost reduction in the e-car sector. After all, the inexpensive sodium is replacing lithium, which has become very expensive.

However, sodium-ion batteries are known to have a lower energy density - and this is the challenge that BYD and other suppliers have to overcome.

The company is now said to be pressing ahead with the development of its third-generation sodium-ion platform. The technology is expected to enable up to 10,000 charging cycles, with the market launch depending on customer demand and deployment plans, as reported by Car News China.

This would be significantly more than with conventional LFP batteries, which manage 2,000 to 3,000 charging cycles. However, there is no further information on the specifications of the sodium-ion battery - and therefore also not on the important energy density.

What is known, however, is that BYD has already started building its first factory for sodium-ion batteries in Xuzhou at the beginning of 2024, which it intends to operate together with Huaihai, a manufacturer of electric two- and three-wheelers.

On the other hand, BYD is working on a sulfide solid-state battery and has apparently achieved important improvements here too, even if these are not disclosed in detail.

The sulphide solid-state battery is said to have the potential for ground-breaking advances in battery life and fast-charging capability and thus represents an important technological innovation.

Based on the current state of research and development, BYD expects to be able to produce its sulfide solid-state batteries on a small scale by 2027.

Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid one, which can improve safety, energy density and service life.

BYD is focusing on sulphide-based solid-state electrolytes as they promise high ionic conductivity and good processability. As Sun Huajun, CTO of the battery business, reported at an event in early 2025, the company has already produced its first solid-state cells with 20 Ah and 60 Ah on its pilot production line in 2024.

BYD is currently best known for its blade batteries with LFP cell chemistry.

These lithium iron phosphate cells are considered to be more robust and cheaper than cell chemistries based on nickel and cobalt, but generally have a lower energy density.

It must therefore be assumed that BYD will pursue several technology paths in the future - and will continue to serve the mass market with LFP batteries, while sodium and solid-state batteries will initially only be used in selected applications.

The Hyundai Motor Group $005380 was overtaken last year by the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD $1211 (-0.33%) in terms of sales on the electric vehicle market outside China.

According to SNE Research, a market research company specializing in the energy sector, BYD sold 627,000 electric vehicles on the global market outside China last year, an increase of 141.8% compared to the previous year.

BYD overtook the Hyundai Motor Group, which sold 609,000 units last year, to take third place in the manufacturers' sales figures.

Volkswagen $VOW (-0.24%) took first place with 1.266 million units sold and an increase of 60.0% compared to the previous year, while Tesla $TSLA (+0.95%) took second place with 1.01 million units sold and a decline of 10.7%.

This is the first time that Hyundai Motor Group has recorded lower annual sales of electric vehicles than BYD in the global market excluding China.

BYD's aggressive push to expand into overseas markets, capitalizing on its price competitiveness and proprietary battery technology, appears to have been reflected in last year's sales figures.

BYD has built and expanded local factories in Europe, including Hungary and Turkey, and in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia, while adding commercial vehicles and compact cars to its portfolio to meet regional demand characteristics.

Despite a relatively stable growth rate last year, Hyundai Motor Group lost its third place to BYD, which recorded strong growth.

SNE Research analyzed that while the Ioniq 5 and EV3 drove performance, existing flagship models such as the Kia EV6, EV9 and Hyundai Kona Electric saw a decline in sales, failing to match the growth momentum of the past.

Hyundai Motor Group delivered around 166,000 units to the North American market last year, and concerns have been raised that price competitiveness could be affected if the United States raises tariffs on Korean-made cars back to 25%.

SNE Research analyzed: "Hyundai Motor Group has room to mitigate tariff risks in part by expanding local production, including at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America plant in Georgia." However, the company added: "If tariffs on parts are extended, assembly volumes in the United States could also come under cost pressure, and product lineup, pricing strategy and the pace of supply chain localization are likely to become important variables."

Last year, a total of 7.662 million electric vehicles were registered worldwide outside China, an increase of 26.6% on the previous year. Given that the growth rate in 2024 was only 6.0% due to the electric vehicle gap, the market now appears to have entered a recovery phase.

The average annual growth rate from 2017 to 2025 is 37.7%. By region, Europe recorded sales of 4.257 million units, an increase of 34.9%, accounting for 55.6% of the non-China market. The North American market recorded 1.736 million units, down 5.0% year-on-year, as the clean vehicle tax credit based on the Inflation Reduction Act expired in September last year.

The Asian market excluding China recorded 1.233 million units with a growth rate of 58.5%. SNE Research analyzed: "Although growth continued in 2025, the driving force of the market has shifted from policy-driven expansion to a focus on profitability, supply chains and price competitiveness." He added: "Moderate growth momentum is also expected in 2026, but regional volatility is likely to increase depending on changes in tariffs, regulations and incentives."

The Chinese car and technology group BYD $1211 (-0.33%) has filed a lawsuit in the USA against President Donald Trump's government.

This is according to court documents filed with the US Court of International Trade at the end of January. BYD and four of its US subsidiaries are demanding the refund of all tariffs imposed on their products since April 2025. At the same time, the company is attacking the legal basis of the duties.

Specifically, BYD is questioning the application of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) - the law that Trump relied on when introducing the car tariffs.

The plaintiffs argue that IEEPA does not authorize border levies because "the text of IEEPA does not use the word 'tariff' or any term with an equivalent meaning".

The lawsuit is the first by a Chinese automaker against the new US tariffs and joins thousands of complaints by global companies attacking the same legal basis.

BYD emphasizes that it had to file its own lawsuit in order to secure the right to a refund of duties already paid.

While the company does not sell any cars in the USA, it operates a broad industrial network there: buses and commercial vehicles, batteries, energy storage technology and solar modules are just as much a part of its portfolio as the truck plant in Lancaster, California, which according to the company employs around 750 people.

The legal dispute is unfolding against the backdrop of increasingly tense economic relations between Washington and Beijing.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that Chinese cars threaten the future of the US car industry. At the same time, however, he has repeatedly stated that he would welcome a Chinese manufacturer producing vehicles directly on US soil.

》The political context《is also significant

In a separate case, the US Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of the tariffs. According to Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the court is deliberately taking its time to reach a decision due to the "enormous" scope of the case.

The BYD case could therefore not only have financial consequences, but could also set the tone for the entire US customs policy under the IEEPA.