Chinese company BYD sold more electric cars than Tesla in the last three months of 2023. They sold a record-breaking 526,000 battery-only vehicles, which is more than Tesla for the first time. However, Tesla still sold more electric cars overall for the whole year. In the last three months of 2023, Tesla sold a record 484,500 electric cars, which was more than what experts expected. Tesla's sales went up by 20% compared to the same time in 2022, but they didn't reach their goal of selling two million cars in 2023. BYD's success shows how competitive the electric car market is and the challenges Tesla faces in staying on top.

BYD, which is based in Shenzhen, sold over 3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023. This includes battery-only cars and hybrids. Almost 1.6 million of those were battery-only cars. BYD's success is because they make their own batteries, which helps them save money. Other companies have to buy batteries from other manufacturers. This gives BYD an advantage over their competitors. In December 2023, they were able to lower their prices a lot because of their battery business, and this led to a 70% increase in sales.

BYD was started in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu and his cousin. They started by making rechargeable batteries and later bought a car company that was struggling. Since 2008, Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway has been a shareholder in BYD. Their success in the electric car industry shows how good they are at making batteries and being adaptable.

The competition between BYD and Tesla shows how much people want electric cars all over the world. As the market gets more competitive, it will be hard for Tesla to be the leader again. BYD's success shows how tough it is for Tesla to stay on top. But Tesla is still a big player in the electric car market because of their strong brand and new technology.

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

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a copy of the article and have them read it together. After reading, instruct each group to write a summary of the article, focusing on the main points and key details. After a designated time, have each group share their summaries with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to discuss and answer the following question: "Do you think BYD's success in selling more electric cars than Tesla in the last three months of 2023 is a sign that Tesla is losing its position as the leader in the electric car market? Why or why not?" After a designated time, have each group share their opinions with the class and facilitate a class discussion.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a list of vocabulary words from the article. Instruct one student from each pair to choose a word from the list and draw a picture representing that word, while the other student guesses the word. After a designated time, have the pairs switch roles. Continue until all the words have been guessed.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups. Assign one group to represent the pros of BYD's success in selling more electric cars than Tesla, and the other group to represent the cons. Instruct each group to brainstorm and write down their arguments. After a designated time, have each group present their arguments to the class and facilitate a debate.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Ask each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of the electric car market based on the information in the article. Some guiding questions could include: "Will BYD continue to outsell Tesla in the coming years? How will Tesla respond to the competition? Will other companies emerge as major players in the market?" After a designated time, have each group share their predictions with the class and facilitate a class discussion.

Chinese company BYD sold more ? cars than ? in the last three months of 2023. They sold a record-breaking 526,000 battery-only vehicles, which is more than Tesla for the ? time. However, Tesla still sold more electric cars overall for the whole year. In the last three months of 2023, Tesla sold a record 484,500 electric cars, which was more than what ? expected. Tesla's sales went up by 20% compared to the same time in 2022, but they didn't reach their goal of ? two million cars in 2023. BYD's success shows how ? the electric car market is and the challenges Tesla ? in staying on top. BYD, which is based in Shenzhen, sold over 3 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2023. This includes battery-only cars and hybrids. Almost 1.6 million of those were battery-only cars. BYD's success is because they make their own batteries, which helps them save money. Other ? have to buy batteries from other manufacturers. This gives BYD an ? over their competitors. In December 2023, they were able to lower their prices a lot because of their battery business, and this led to a 70% increase in sales. BYD was ? in 1995 by Wang Chuanfu and his cousin. They started by making rechargeable batteries and later bought a car ? that was struggling. Since 2008, Warren Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway has been a ? in BYD. Their ? in the electric car industry shows how good they are at ? batteries and being adaptable. The ? between BYD and Tesla shows how much people want electric cars all over the world. As the market gets more competitive, it will be hard for Tesla to be the leader again. BYD's success shows how tough it is for Tesla to stay on top. But Tesla is still a big player in the electric car market because of their ? brand and new technology.

1. What is a battery-only vehicle?
2. How would you feel if you owned an electric car?
3. Do you like the idea of electric cars? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it's important for companies to make their own batteries? Why or why not?
5. What challenges do you think Tesla faces in staying on top of the electric car market?
6. Why do you think BYD was able to lower their prices so much in December 2023?
7. What advantages does BYD have over their competitors?
8. How do you think the competition between BYD and Tesla affects the electric car market?
9. Do you think people all over the world want electric cars? Why or why not?
10. How tough do you think it is for Tesla to stay on top in the electric car market?
11. Why do you think Tesla is still a big player in the electric car market?
12. What do you think it takes for a company to be successful in the electric car industry?
13. How do you think the success of BYD and Tesla affects other car companies?
14. Have you ever ridden in an electric car? If so, what was your experience like?
15. What do you think the future of the electric car market will look like?

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