Chinese company BYD surpassed Tesla in electric car sales during the last quarter of 2023. BYD reported a record-breaking 526,000 battery-only vehicle sales, outpacing Tesla for the first time. Tesla, however, still sold more electric vehicles overall for the entire year. In the last three months of 2023, Tesla delivered a record 484,500 electric vehicles, exceeding analysts’ expectations. While Tesla experienced a 20% increase in sales compared to the same period in 2022, it fell short of its goal to achieve two million deliveries in 2023. BYD’s achievement highlights the competitiveness of the electric vehicle market and the challenges Tesla faces in maintaining its leading position.

BYD, based in Shenzhen, sold over 3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023, including battery-only vehicles and hybrids. Of these, nearly 1.6 million were battery-only vehicles. BYD’s success can be attributed to its battery business, which allows the company to save costs by producing batteries in-house. This gives BYD a competitive advantage over its rivals who rely on third-party manufacturers for batteries. The company’s ability to cut prices sharply at the end of 2023, thanks to its battery business, contributed to a 70% increase in sales in December alone.

BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu and his cousin, initially focusing on manufacturing rechargeable batteries. It later diversified by acquiring a struggling state-owned car manufacturer. Since 2008, BYD has had Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway as a shareholder. The company’s success in the electric vehicle industry is a testament to its battery expertise and its ability to adapt and innovate.

The competition between BYD and Tesla reflects the growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide. As the market becomes more competitive, it will be challenging for Tesla to regain its position as the industry leader. BYD’s achievement serves as a reminder of the difficulties Tesla faces in maintaining its dominance. However, with its strong brand and innovative technology, Tesla remains a significant player in the electric vehicle market.

Original news source: China’s BYD overtakes Tesla’s electric car sales in last quarter of 2023 (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary

Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Provide each group with a copy of the article. Instruct them to read the article and then work together to write a summary of the main points. Encourage them to focus on key details such as the sales figures, the companies involved, and the challenges faced by Tesla. After a designated time, have each group share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll

Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Instruct each group to come up with a list of questions related to the article. These questions can be about the companies, the sales figures, or the future of the electric vehicle market. After the groups have created their questions, have them take turns asking each other and discussing their opinions. Encourage them to use the vocabulary and concepts from the article in their responses.

– Pros and Cons

Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to represent BYD and the other group to represent Tesla. Instruct each group to brainstorm a list of advantages and disadvantages of their assigned company based on the information in the article. After a designated time, have each group present their lists to the class. Encourage the class to engage in a debate, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each company and making comparisons.

– Keyword Hangman

Instructions: Write a selection of keywords from the article on the board, leaving out one or two letters from each word. Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Instruct each group to take turns guessing the missing letters and completing the words. Encourage them to discuss the meaning of the words and how they relate to the article. After each word is completed, have the class discuss the significance of the word in the context of the article.

– Future Predictions

Instructions: Instruct each student to write a short paragraph predicting the future of the electric vehicle market based on the information in the article. Encourage them to use the vocabulary and concepts from the article in their predictions. After a designated time, have the students share their predictions with the class. Encourage the class to engage in a discussion about the different predictions and their reasoning.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How many battery-only vehicle sales did BYD report in the last quarter of 2023?
2. Did Tesla sell more electric vehicles overall for the entire year?
3. How many electric vehicles did Tesla deliver in the last three months of 2023?
4. What was Tesla’s goal for deliveries in 2023?
5. How many new energy vehicles did BYD sell in 2023?
6. What gives BYD a competitive advantage over its rivals in the electric vehicle market?
7. When was BYD founded and who were its founders?
8. What does BYD’s success in the electric vehicle industry demonstrate?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Chinese company BYD surpassed Tesla in electric car sales during the last (1)______ of 2023. BYD reported a (2)______-breaking 526,000 battery-only (3)______ sales, outpacing Tesla for the first time. Tesla, however, still sold more electric vehicles overall for the entire year. In the last three months of 2023, Tesla delivered a record 484,500 electric vehicles, exceeding analysts’ expectations. While Tesla experienced a 20% increase in sales compared to the same period in 2022, it fell short of its goal to (4)______ two million deliveries in 2023. BYD’s achievement highlights the competitiveness of the (5)______ vehicle market and the challenges (6)______ faces in maintaining its leading (7)______.

BYD, based in Shenzhen, sold over 3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023, including (8)______-only vehicles and hybrids. Of these, nearly 1.6 million were battery-only vehicles. BYD’s success can be attributed to its battery business, which allows the company to save costs by producing batteries in-house. This gives BYD a competitive advantage over its rivals who rely on third-party (9)______s for batteries. The company’s ability to cut prices sharply at the end of 2023, thanks to its battery business, contributed to a 70% increase in sales in (10)______ alone.

BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu and his (11)______, initially focusing on manufacturing rechargeable batteries. It later diversified by acquiring a struggling state-owned car manufacturer. Since 2008, BYD has had Warren Buffett’s Berkshire (12)______ as a shareholder. The company’s success in the electric vehicle industry is a testament to its battery expertise and its (13)______ to adapt and innovate.

The competition between BYD and Tesla reflects the growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide. As the (14)______ becomes more competitive, it will be challenging for Tesla to (15)______ its position as the industry leader. BYD’s achievement serves as a reminder of the difficulties Tesla faces in maintaining its dominance. However, with its strong brand and innovative technology, Tesla (16)______ a significant player in the electric vehicle market.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What do you think is the main reason behind BYD surpassing Tesla in electric car sales?
2. How would you feel if you owned a Tesla and found out that BYD sold more electric vehicles?
3. Do you think Tesla will be able to regain its position as the industry leader in the electric vehicle market? Why or why not?
4. What is a competitive advantage, and how do you think BYD’s battery business gives them one?
5. How do you think Tesla’s strong brand and innovative technology contribute to its success in the electric vehicle market?
6. Do you think it’s important for companies to produce batteries in-house, like BYD does? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you were a shareholder of Tesla and saw that BYD’s sales were surpassing them?
8. What challenges do you think Tesla faces in maintaining its leading position in the electric vehicle market?
9. How do you think the growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide is affecting the competition between BYD and Tesla?
10. Do you like the idea of owning an electric vehicle? Why or why not?
11. How do you think BYD’s success in the electric vehicle industry reflects its ability to adapt and innovate?
12. What difficulties do you think Tesla faces in maintaining its dominance in the electric vehicle market?
13. How do you think Tesla’s sales would have been affected if they had achieved their goal of two million deliveries in 2023?
14. What do you think is the future of the electric vehicle market? Will it continue to grow? Why or why not?
15. How do you think the competition between BYD and Tesla will impact the development of electric vehicle technology?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. surpassed
2. record-breaking
3. outpacing
4. delivered
5. analysts
6. competitiveness
7. maintaining
8. hybrids
9. attributed
10. rivals
11. sharply
12. diversified
13. shareholder
14. testament
15. innovative

Meanings:
(A) Expanded into a wider variety of areas or categories
(B) Surpassing all previous achievements
(C) Featuring new methods or ideas; creative and not traditional
(D) Competitors or adversaries in the same industry or field
(E) Evidence or proof of something
(F) Moving faster or doing better than
(G) Credited or ascribed to a particular cause or source
(H) Experts who analyze and forecast outcomes
(I) The quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature
(J) Handed over or distributed
(K) Vehicles powered by a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor
(L) Keeping something at a certain level or in a certain condition
(M) In a manner that is severe or extreme
(N) Exceeded or went beyond
(O) An individual or organization that owns a portion of a company’s stock
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which company surpassed Tesla in electric car sales during the last quarter of 2023?
(a) Ford
(b) Toyota
(c) BYD
(d) Volkswagen

2. How many battery-only vehicles did BYD sell in 2023?
(a) 526,000
(b) 3 million
(c) 484,500
(d) Nearly 1.6 million

3. What gives BYD a competitive advantage over its rivals?
(a) Producing batteries in-house
(b) Lowering prices
(c) Acquiring other car manufacturers
(d) Having Warren Buffett as a shareholder

4. How much did Tesla’s sales increase in the last three months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022?
(a) 70%
(b) 20%
(c) 10%
(d) 30%

5. What is the main reason for BYD’s success in the electric vehicle industry?
(a) Its strong brand
(b) Its innovative technology
(c) Its battery expertise
(d) Its ability to adapt and innovate

6. How many electric vehicles did Tesla deliver in the last three months of 2023?
(a) 484,500
(b) 526,000
(c) Nearly 1.6 million
(d) 3 million

7. Who founded BYD?
(a) Elon Musk
(b) Warren Buffett
(c) Ford
(d) Wang Chuanfu and his cousin

8. What does BYD’s achievement highlight?
(a) The challenges Tesla faces in maintaining its leading position
(b) The competitiveness of the electric vehicle market
(c) The growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide
(d) All of the above

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Tesla experienced a 20% increase in sales compared to the same period in 2022.
2. Tesla surpassed BYD in electric car sales during the last quarter of 2023.
3. BYD’s success can be attributed to factors beyond its battery business, which hinder the company’s ability to save costs by producing batteries in-house.
4. BYD’s ability to cut prices sharply at the end of 2023 contributed to a 70% increase in sales in December alone.
5. BYD sold over 3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023, including battery-only vehicles and hybrids.
6. BYD reported a modest 526,000 battery-only vehicle sales, falling behind Tesla for the first time.
7. Tesla sold fewer electric vehicles overall for the entire year.
8. In the last three months of 2023, Tesla delivered a record 484,500 electric vehicles, exceeding analysts’ expectations.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. How did BYD surpass Tesla in electric car sales during the last quarter of 2023?
2. How many battery-only vehicles did BYD sell in 2023?
3. What is the competitive advantage that BYD has over its rivals in the electric vehicle market?
4. Who founded BYD and when was it founded?
5. What does BYD’s success in the electric vehicle industry indicate about the demand for electric vehicles worldwide?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. How many battery-only vehicle sales did BYD report in the last quarter of 2023?
BYD reported a record-breaking 526,000 battery-only vehicle sales in the last quarter of 2023.

2. Did Tesla sell more electric vehicles overall for the entire year?
Yes, Tesla sold more electric vehicles overall for the entire year.

3. How many electric vehicles did Tesla deliver in the last three months of 2023?
Tesla delivered a record 484,500 electric vehicles in the last three months of 2023.

4. What was Tesla’s goal for deliveries in 2023?
Tesla’s goal was to achieve two million deliveries in 2023.

5. How many new energy vehicles did BYD sell in 2023?
BYD sold over 3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023.

6. What gives BYD a competitive advantage over its rivals in the electric vehicle market?
BYD’s ability to produce batteries in-house gives it a competitive advantage over its rivals who rely on third-party manufacturers for batteries.

7. When was BYD founded and who were its founders?
BYD was founded in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu and his cousin.

8. What does BYD’s success in the electric vehicle industry demonstrate?
BYD’s success in the electric vehicle industry demonstrates its battery expertise and its ability to adapt and innovate.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) quarter
(2) record
(3) vehicle
(4) achieve
(5) electric
(6) Tesla
(7) position
(8) battery
(9) manufacturer
(10) December
(11) cousin
(12) Hathaway
(13) ability
(14) market
(15) regain
(16) remains
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. surpassed
Answer: (N) Exceeded or went beyond

2. record-breaking
Answer: (B) Surpassing all previous achievements

3. outpacing
Answer: (F) Moving faster or doing better than

4. delivered
Answer: (J) Handed over or distributed

5. analysts
Answer: (H) Experts who analyze and forecast outcomes

6. competitiveness
Answer: (I) The quality of being as good as or better than others of a comparable nature

7. maintaining
Answer: (L) Keeping something at a certain level or in a certain condition

8. hybrids
Answer: (K) Vehicles powered by a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor

9. attributed
Answer: (G) Credited or ascribed to a particular cause or source

10. rivals
Answer: (D) Competitors or adversaries in the same industry or field

11. sharply
Answer: (M) In a manner that is severe or extreme

12. diversified
Answer: (A) Expanded into a wider variety of areas or categories

13. shareholder
Answer: (O) An individual or organization that owns a portion of a company’s stock

14. testament
Answer: (E) Evidence or proof of something

15. innovative
Answer: (C) Featuring new methods or ideas; creative and not traditional
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Which company surpassed Tesla in electric car sales during the last quarter of 2023?
Answer: (c) BYD

2. How many battery-only vehicles did BYD sell in 2023?
Answer: (d) Nearly 1.6 million

3. What gives BYD a competitive advantage over its rivals?
Answer: (a) Producing batteries in-house

4. How much did Tesla’s sales increase in the last three months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022?
Answer: (b) 20%

5. What is the main reason for BYD’s success in the electric vehicle industry?
Answer: (c) Its battery expertise

6. How many electric vehicles did Tesla deliver in the last three months of 2023?
Answer: (a) 484,500

7. Who founded BYD?
Answer: (d) Wang Chuanfu and his cousin

8. What does BYD’s achievement highlight?
Answer: (b) The competitiveness of the electric vehicle market
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Tesla experienced a 20% increase in sales compared to the same period in 2022. (Answer: True)
2. Tesla surpassed BYD in electric car sales during the last quarter of 2023. (Answer: False)
3. BYD’s success can be attributed to factors beyond its battery business, which hinder the company’s ability to save costs by producing batteries in-house. (Answer: False)
4. BYD’s ability to cut prices sharply at the end of 2023 contributed to a 70% increase in sales in December alone. (Answer: True)
5. BYD sold over 3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023, including battery-only vehicles and hybrids. (Answer: True)
6. BYD reported a modest 526,000 battery-only vehicle sales, falling behind Tesla for the first time. (Answer: False)
7. Tesla sold fewer electric vehicles overall for the entire year. (Answer: False)
8. In the last three months of 2023, Tesla delivered a record 484,500 electric vehicles, exceeding analysts’ expectations. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧