China’s EV Makers Turn On BYD As Price War Escalates

Tensions among China’s top electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers have escalated sharply as the long-running dispute between BYD and Great Wall Motor over emissions compliance reignited and drew in a new critic: Geely.

BYD has insisted its vehicles comply with all emissions regulations. I Photo: BYD Global Facebook

Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, and Brenda Goh reported the developments for Reuters.

The feud dates back to 2023, when Great Wall Motor filed a complaint with Chinese regulators alleging that BYD’s two top-selling hybrid models failed to meet national emissions standards.

The issue resurfaced last month after Great Wall Chairman Wei Jianjun raised fresh concerns about the ongoing EV price war and confirmed that the emissions probe remains active.

BYD rejected Wei’s comments on market health as “alarmist” but did not respond directly to the emissions claims.

Previously, the company insisted its vehicles complied with all regulations. Now, Geely has weighed in.

At an auto industry conference in Chongqing on Saturday, Geely Vice President Victor Yang backed Great Wall’s claims, stating that his company conducted its own emissions tests and found similar results.

“Wei Jianjun is a genuine, honest person and is our industry’s whistleblower,” Yang said, according to videos circulated by The Paper and other Chinese media.