(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
While Tesla has emphasized the sedan segment of the EV passenger car market with its Model 3, Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD is racking up huge sales in the China market with its new crossover vehicle, the BYD Yuan EV.
A stylish small crossover vehicle, the Yuan EV had 6,428 deliveries in April, making it number one in EV vehicles sold in China.
The company also had strong sales for its BYD e5, which ranked fourth with 4,602 units, and the BYD PHEV Tang, which was seventh with 3,833 moved.
Tesla’s lone vehicle on the list, the Model 3, just missed the top ten, with an estimated 3,000 units, which would place it in eleventh place.
Making a strong run at BYD’s first place spot is fellow Chinese carmaker Geely, which is headquartered in the city of Hangzhou. The Geely Emgrand EV was in the second spot 5,225 units sold in April.
BYD and Berkshire Hathaway
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.
For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.
© 2019 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.