BYD has unveiled a new market-leading charging platform that supports 1,000kW charging, which doubles Tesla’s 500kW system. This new platform would enable users to charge their vehicle in a similar time that it would take to fill up a traditional vehicle with petrol.

BYD also announced that two new models will be capable of receiving 1,000kW at peak charging power, providing the vehicles with 400km of range in just five minutes of charging. This level of charging capability has been more of an aspiration than a reality for consumer vehicles thus far and leapfrogs Tesla’s capability, further highlighting Tesla’s need to innovate and evolve to remain competitive in the BEV space.

In addition to the charging platform, BYD also revealed that it would be installing a network of 4,000 ‘flash-charging’ stations across China that will support 1,000kW. This move is evidently aiming to take further share from Tesla in the largest EV market, where BYD already takes top spot. Up until now, BYD users have had to use other charging networks, so its own fleet of stations will only increase attractiveness to new consumers.

BYD was the second-largest producer of BEV globally in 2024, following closely behind Tesla. However, a lack of new models and updates, along with Elon Musk’s political involvement in the USA, is leaving Tesla with a weaker outlook among many. A increasingly negative sentiment surrounding Tesla has been brewing in Europe and other regions due to Musk’s political involvement, which is expected to bring further challenges in other major markets. As BYD continues its relentless expansion in sales and innovation, it begs the question for how serious Tesla is in trying to reclaim its competitive edge. Much of Tesla’s promise currently hinges on autonomous vehicles, however Elon Musk has not delivered on promises to date, inviting additional investor pressure.