BYD America boss explains Chinese EV makers edge as it expands overseas
BYD, or “Build Your Dreams,” is unlike many auto manufacturers, which is part of the reason behind its success. As the EV maker expands overseas, BYD America CEO Stella Li believes the company has an advantage.
BYD brings affordable EVs to North America
At the launch of BYD’s affordable Dolphin electric hatchback in Brazil, MotorTrend caught up with Li to discuss Chinese EVs and expanding overseas.
“A Chinese car wants to give them extra value in the interior design, extra value on innovation, and high tech,” Li explained when asked how overseas buyers will see Chinese electric cars.
Li gave the example of BYD’s Dolphin. BYD launched the Dolphin EV in Mexico last week, starting at MXN 539,990 ($31,000). The Dolphin is BYD’s fourth all-electric model in the region, joining the Han sedan, Tang SUV, and Yuan Plus electric SUV introduced in June.
Powered by a 70 kW electric motor and 44.9 kWh BYD Blade Battery, the Dolphin offers “class-leading efficiency” of 11 kWh / 100 km.
Despite the affordable price tag, “when you open the door, it’s not cheap,” Li said. The Dolphin has “premium and high-tech” features like voice control to open windows and digital key entry. It even includes karaoke and video games.
Advantages of expanding overseas
Even though BYD does not sell its electric cars in the US (though they do sell electric buses), you may already own some of its products. BYD’s history has helped propel it into the future.
BYD began as a battery company, later venturing into cell phone assembly. The company is now the largest global supplier of rechargeable batteries. As Li explained, “Today, one-third of the smartphone components, all the final phone assembly, all the R&D and design are done by BYD; 20 percent of global phone components are produced by BYD.”
The company also outsources its batteries to other automakers, including Tesla, Toyota, Kia, and others.
As such, BYD is “more like an engineering company,” with 10% of staff being engineers and 11 patents per day being produced.
BYD has transformed into a heavily integrated company. The automaker has specific divisions for every component, like telematics assembly and air conditioners. This has enabled all components in BYD’s Dolphin, except the tires and windows, to be made entirely in-house.
The integration solves many problems that traditional automakers are facing while going electric. If cross-functionality is needed, you can get them together under one roof rather than dealing with third parties. It also can help avoid supply chain disruptions.
Perhaps most importantly, BYD can crank out new models and technology much quicker than rivals by producing its own components.
The average automaker takes around four years to develop a new car from scratch to a finished project. At BYD, it’s 18 months.
When compared to Vietnamese EV maker VinFast in that regard, Li said, “The advantage we have [is that the] Chinese market is a very competitive market.”
The CEO explained, “China is the toughest market, but we are the winner. We use this as a platform for our globalization plan.” Adding, “Every car we bring overseas, we are the winner. We beat every competitor in the Chinese market, which is the toughest market.”
Electrek’s Take
BYD is rapidly expanding in China and abroad with a wide selection of EVs, from affordable to luxury. But its most significant advantage lies in its engineering and tech capabilities.
By producing nearly every component in the Dolphin and other electric cars, BYD can build, ship, update, and more to ensure it’s putting out a competitive product at an affordable price. The 500,000th Dolphin rolled off the assembly line last week as the low-cost electric hatchback gains momentum overseas.
BYD’s profits more than doubled to nearly $1 billion in the second quarter as deliveries surged to a new record.
The Chinese EV maker dethroned Volkswagen as the top automaker in China earlier this year and is looking to carry the momentum into international markets.
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Believe it or not, you can lease an EV for under $200 a month. New deals on models like the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 are hard to pass up this month.
Electric vehicles have been all over the news lately, with the Trump administration threatening to end federal incentives and introducing new tariffs that are expected to lead to higher prices.
On the positive side, new EV models are arriving, giving buyers more options and driving prices down. Many automakers reported record US electric car sales in the first three months of 2024.
GM remained the number two seller of EVs behind Tesla after sales doubled in Q1 2025. With the new Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs rolling out, Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is off to its best sales start since launching, with over 11,600 models sold in the first quarter.
With the 2025 models rolling out and about 15 new EVs arriving this year, many automakers are introducing steep discounts to move vehicles off the lot.
EVs for lease for under $200 a month in April
Although the decade-old Nissan LEAF remains one of the most affordable this April at just $149 per month, there are a few EVs under $200 right now that are worth taking a look at.
The new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ might be the best EV deal this month, with leases as low as $199. Hyundai is currently promoting a 24-month lease deal with $3,999 due at signing.
Hyundai upgraded the electric SUV with a bigger battery for more range (now up to 318 miles), a sleek new look inside and out, and it now comes with an NACS port so you can charge it at Tesla Superchargers.
The offer is for the IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range, which has a driving range of up to 245 miles. For just $229 a month, you can snag the SE RWD model, which has a range of up to 318 miles and a more powerful (225 horsepower) electric motor. It’s also a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
To sweeten the deal, Hyundai is offering a free ChargePoint Home Flex Level 2 EV charger with the purchase or lease of any 2024 or 2025 IONIQ 5. If you already have one, you can opt for a $400 public charging credit.
After slashing lease prices this month, the 2025 Nissan Ariya is actually cheaper than the LEAF in some regions. In Southern California, the 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD is listed at just $129 per month. The AWD model has a range of up to 272 miles.
The deal is for 36 months, with $4,409 due at signing. In April, Nissan cut Ariya lease prices to around $239 in most other parts of the country.
Kia has a few EVs available to lease for under $200 a month in April. The 2025 Kia Niro EV Wind is listed at just $129 for 24 months, with $3,999 due at signing. Kia’s crossover SUV has EPA-estimated range of 253 miles.
The 2024 EV6 may be worth considering at just $179 for 24 months ($3,999 due at signing). In California, the EV6 Light Long Range RWD is only slightly more than the Niro Wind.
In most other parts of the country, you can still find the EV6 for under $200 a month. The Light Long Range RWD trim offers up to 310 miles of EPA-estimated range.
| Lease Price | Term (months) |
Amount Due at Signing | Driving Range | |
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | $199 | 24 | $3,999 | 245 miles |
| 2024 Kia EV6 Light Long Rang RWD | $179 | 24 | $3,999 | 310 miles |
| 2024 Kia Niro EV Wind | $129 | 24 | $3,999 | 253 miles |
| 2025 Nissan Ariya Evolve AWD | $129 | 36 | $4,409 | 272 miles |
| 2025 Nissan LEAF S FWD | $149 | 36 | $2,629 | 149 miles |
| 2024 Fiat 500 INSPI(RED) | $199 | 24 | $2,999 | 149 miles |
And don’t forget the 2024 Fiat 500e, which is now listed at just $199 for 24 months with $2,999 due at signing. The electric hatchback offers a range of up to 149 miles.
If you are looking to spend a little more, check out our list of EVs you can lease for under $300 a month.
Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? At under $200 a month, some of these EV lease deals are hard to pass up right now. Check out our links below to find deals in your area.
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![The US’s first solar panels over canals pilot is now online [video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/04/Project-Nexus-solar-canal.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Project Nexus, the first solar panel canopies over irrigation canals in the US, is now online in California, and there are plans to expand the project to other areas.
Project Nexus is a $20 million pilot in central California’s Turlock Irrigation District launched in October 2022. The project team is exploring solar over canal design, deployment, and co-benefits using canal infrastructure and the electrical grid.
India already has solar panels over canals, but Project Nexus is the first of its kind in the US.
The Turlock Irrigation District was the first irrigation district formed in California in 1887. It provides irrigation water to 4,700 growers who farm around 150,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley.
Project Nexus will explore whether the solar panels reduce water evaporation as a result of midday shade and wind mitigation, create improvements to water quality through reduced vegetative growth, reduce canal maintenance as a result of reduced vegetative growth, and, of course, generate renewable electricity.
The California Department of Water Resources, utility company Turlock Irrigation District, Marin County, California-based water and energy project developer Solar AquaGrid, and The University of California, Merced, are partnering on the pilot. Project Nexus originated from a 2021 research project led by UC Merced alumna and project scientist Brandi McKuin.
Solar panels were installed at two sites over both wide- and narrow-span sections of Turlock Irrigation District canals in Stanislaus County, in various orientations. The sections range from 20 feet wide to 100 feet wide. University of California, Merced has positioned research equipment at both sites to collect baseline data so the researchers can decide where solar will work and where it won’t.
In February 2023, Project Nexus announced it would also deploy long-term iron flow battery storage in the form of two ESS 75kW turnkey “Energy Warehouse” batteries.
You can learn more about Project Nexus here:
Read more: In a US first, California will pilot solar-panel canopies over canals
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