Published on February 21st, 2024 | by Sounder Rajen

Will BYD Seal Launch Cause Tesla Bookings In Malaysia To Fall?

With the BYD Seal launching tomorrow, how will Tesla fight demand for it?

In the past months we have seen how Tesla’s arrival in some markets has pushed some other electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to lose bookings, but now we might see what happens when the tables are turned. With the launch of the BYD Seal in Malaysia tomorrow, will Tesla Malaysia see a sharp fall in bookings?

More importantly, we ask will Tesla initiate a price cut like they did in Europe and China to remain competitive here in Malaysia? Also, will BYD end up pushing Tesla Malaysia into a corner which will force the brand to sell its vehicles at a lower cost and see little to no profit just to keep bookings?

Moreover, Tesla famously started what is commonly known as the “EV Price Wars” in China by slashing prices of certain models in the country, this had forced a lot of Chinese manufacturers to either completely shut down or just suffer unimaginable losses so some might say it is only right they get a taste of their own medicine, right?

Also, while some may be over the moon whenever Tesla announces a price slash and will almost immediately abandon whatever car they were planning to book at the time to rush and buy that car but truthfully, why don’t they ask why the brand is able to cut the prices of their cars so drastically and still survive?

Some think it is because Tesla just overcharges for everything from start to finish or while others believe that the brand is simply cutting costs in other ways (despite there being no public record of anything like that ever happening but there are plenty of examples of the opposite). Which do you believe?

On top of that, BYD has had major success globally as of late and has even become the number one EV exporter in the world last year so clearly, anyone who thinks that there is nothing to worry about with BYD is wrong because this brand is extremely popular for all the right reasons.

While Tesla has had many lawsuits thrown in their face more often than most brands, BYD has been steadily gaining traction for how robust, high quality and stylish their vehicles are and the BYD Seal is no different. Even here in Malaysia, many are waiting to see the Seal in person so should the American EV maker be worried?