> it’s not because of being competitive price wise but more about status

It's a premium product. Whether due to brand, features or something else, it's undeniable that Tesla was doing something right vis-à-vis BYD. (That said, they've been losing their edge since even before Musk's recent fuckups [1].)

[1] https://cnevpost.com/2025/09/08/tesla-sells-57152-cars-china...