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It's time to get real about Tesla Superchargers, which were already facing challenges before Tesla's biggest global competitor, Chinese powerhouse BYD, announced an ultra-fast EV charging system this week that delivers 250 miles of range in just five to eight minutes.
That's about as quick as a gas station, and aims to "completely solve users' anxiety over charging," says BYD founder Wang Chuanfu, according to CBS News. The company plans to build over 4,000 of its "Megawatt Flash Chargers" across China.
BYD, which stands for "Build Your Dreams," is the largest EV maker in China with 41% year-over-year growth. It sells its vehicles in other regions like Europe, but they have never been available in the US due to tariffs that aim to protect the American auto industry.
Elon Musk says Chinese automakers are Tesla's biggest competition, The Wall Street Journal reports. Ford CEO Jim Farley has also spoken about the company's struggle to compete with the Chinese auto industry, citing it as one reason the company is pivoting to hybrids.
While Tesla Superchargers have a public reputation for being the best in the business, and they are indeed plentiful and reliable, BYD's new chargers drive home what's well-understood among EV aficionados: Superchargers are slower than the competition, offering speeds up to 250kWh compared with 400kWh for other brands. Tesla knows its chargers are falling behind, though its upcoming V4 Superchargers are intended to offer rates up to 500kWh.
In fairness, BYD has also come under fire in China for its slow charging rates, with critics saying its low-cost LFP batteries take too long to power up, Car News China reports. But unlike Tesla, which fired its entire Supercharging team in May 2024 and decided to focus on AI, BYD has now decided to fix its power problem. New chargers will be compatible with a forthcoming vehicle platform, the Super e-Platform, with a 1000V high-voltage system. During a live test, two BYD EVs, the Han L and Tang L, went from 7% to 50% in 4.5 minutes. That's nothing short of a game-changer for EV drivers, especially if it's as affordable as BYD's other vehicles.
The news adds salt to the wound for Tesla, which is struggling to keep sales afloat in China. Although battery-powered cars and hybrids are booming in the region, up 40% in 2024 as gas-powered vehicle sales plummet, Tesla's 2025 sales are down 14% year-over-year, The New York Times reports. Buyers cite a lack of newness in the lineup and high prices compared with the growing number of low-cost, high-tech options coming out of Chinese plants. Tesla is trying to reinvigorate sales with the refreshed Model Y, which first debuted in China before coming to the US this month, but an entirely new EV would likely make a bigger splash.
Investors and consumers are noticing the stagnation at Tesla. The news of BYD's chargers contributed to an ongoing decline in Tesla's stock and rising anti-Musk sentiment. Tesla's CEO will need to speak to what's happening in next month's Q1 earnings call, though he recently admitted he is having difficulty running his businesses alongside DOGE. If the last few earnings calls are any indication, he will likely focus on Tesla's robotaxi ambitions.