‘Greatest brand destruction of our times’: Musk’s Tesla China crisis

BYD has Tesla playing catch-up on technology as production and sales fall in the world’s biggest car market.

Jessica SierNorth Asia correspondent

Mar 21, 2025 – 2.38pm

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

Unlike the rest of the world, China’s consumers don’t seem to care about Elon Musk’s controversial politics amid a dramatic backlash against his Tesla electric vehicles.

Tesla sales have tanked in Europe and elsewhere as the chief executive has gone to work dismantling US government agencies with President Donald Trump’s support, attacking political figures across Europe and backing far-right parties.

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

License article

Introducing your Newsfeed

Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.

Find out more

Jessica SierNorth Asia correspondentJessica Sier is the North Asia Correspondent for The Australian Financial Review. She is based in Tokyo, Japan. Jessica has previously written on technology, global capital markets and economics.