On Sunday, a report from the Korean Economic Daily claimed that Tesla China will not continue its battery supply deal with BYD.
The report, which cited industry sources, claimed this was due to safety concerns about BYD's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
Both Tesla CEO Elon Musk and BYD itself issued statements denying the report.
- In a Twitter post, Elon Musk indicated that the report was false and that Tesla and BYD still have a strong relationship.
- "This media report is false. The relationship between Tesla and BYD is positive," Musk wrote.
- BYD also issued a statement about the report.
- The Chinese automaker, whose auto division is one of Tesla's strongest competitors in China, denied the report.
- According to a Reuters report, BYD stated that the report "does not correspond to the actual situation."
- While the reported battery supply relationships between Tesla and BYD have not been publicly disclosed, executives from the automaker have previously indicated that a supply deal with the US electric vehicle maker is coming.
- In an interview with Chinese state-owned broadcaster CGTN last June, BYD Executive Vice President Lian Yubo stated that BYD would supply batteries to Tesla "very soon."
- In April 2022, the EU approved the Model Y with BYD batteries.
- The Model Y with BYD batteries is listed with a 55 kWh battery pack.
- Its range was up to 440 km.