China's BYD beats Tesla, becomes world's top EV seller
Listen to the story (American accent)
BYD is a car company from China. It sells electric cars. Now, BYD is the number one seller in the world. It sold more cars than the American company, Tesla.
In 2025, Tesla sold 1.64 million cars. This was less than the year before. BYD sold more than 2.25 million cars.
Tesla had a hard year. Some people did not like the new cars. Other people did not like the owner, Elon Musk. Chinese cars are also cheaper than Tesla cars. Tesla lowered its prices, but it did not help. Also, the US government stopped giving money to people who buy electric cars.
Elon Musk wants to do better. He wants to sell a robot called Optimus. He also wants to make taxis that drive themselves. But Elon Musk is very busy with his other companies like SpaceX.
BYD is growing very fast in many countries. In the United Kingdom, it sold many more cars than before. BYD cars cost less money, so many people buy them. Tesla still makes a lot of money, but BYD is now the leader.
Vocabulary9 words
- Electric car
- a car that uses a battery; a vehicle that runs on electricity; a car that does not use gas or petrol
- Seller
- a person or company that gives things for money; a shop; a vendor; a trader
- Million
- a very big number; 1,000,000; one thousand times one thousand
- Owner
- the person who has something; the person something belongs to; the boss of a company.
- The US
- the United States of America; a large country in North America; America 🇺🇸
- Government
- the group of people who make rules for a country; the leaders of a nation; the people who run a state 🏛️
- Robot
- a machine that can do work; a machine that can move like a person; a computer with a body 🤖
- Grow
- to become bigger; to get larger; to increase in size or number
- Leader
- the person or company in first place; the winner; the head of a group; the most successful one
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
BYD is a _____ company from China. It sells electric cars. _____ , BYD is the number one seller in the world. It sold more cars _____ the American company, Tesla.
In _____ , Tesla sold 1.64 million cars. This was less than the _____ before. BYD sold more than _____ million cars.
Tesla had a hard year. _____ people did not like the new cars. Other people did not like the _____ , Elon Musk. Chinese cars are also _____ than Tesla cars. Tesla lowered its prices, but it did not _____ . Also, the US government stopped _____ money to people who buy electric cars.
Elon Musk wants to _____ better. He wants to sell a robot called Optimus. He _____ wants to make taxis that drive themselves. But Elon Musk is _____ busy with his other companies like SpaceX.
BYD is _____ very fast in many countries. In the United Kingdom, it _____ many more cars than before. BYD cars _____ less money, so many people buy _____ . Tesla still makes a lot of money, but BYD is now the _____ .
Discussion questions
- Do you like electric cars? Why or why not?
- Is it better to buy a cheap car or an expensive car? Why?
- Do you think a robot like Optimus is a good idea for a home?
- Is Elon Musk a good leader for Tesla? Why do you think so?
- Would you like to ride in a taxi that has no driver? Why or why not?
- Why do you think more people are buying Chinese cars?
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