Daily Drive: BYD dominates EV market, outselling Tesla — plus Dacia’s bargain EVs, Nissan’s rugged tease, and racing chaos

Three coffees deep, phone on 12%, and a pair of muddy boots still in the trunk from a rain-soaked test loop. That’s the headspace. And the headline? BYD Dominates EV Market, Outselling Tesla. If you watch registrations as closely as tire temps, you’ll feel the momentum shift too.

EV pulse check: BYD Dominates EV Market, Outselling Tesla — and the budget brigade sharpens its pencils

BYD Dominates EV Market, Outselling Tesla

Reports out of Australia and beyond say it plainly: BYD is now outselling Tesla in the headline EV race, and not by accident. A wider model spread, barn-storming value, and relentless iteration are pushing the needle. I’ve noticed it on school runs and supermarket lots—more Atto 3s and Seal U’s each month, often wearing the kind of options that used to cost extra. Tesla still owns mindshare in many Western cities, but the gravity is tilting east, and quickly.

• Why it matters: More competition means lower prices and faster tech trickle-down.
• Buyer takeaway: Expect features like 360 cameras, V2L, and heat pumps at price points that used to be bare-bones.

Dacia goes big on small: Spring, Sandero, and the featherweight Hipster

Autocar’s flagged a three-pronged Dacia push for 2026. The Spring EV gets chassis tweaks and up to 99 bhp. I drove an earlier Spring over Parisian cobbles last year—it was charming, honest, and bounced like a happy terrier. A touch more power and better damping should make ring-road stints less teeth-clenching.

The Sandero returns with a hybrid option—sensible, given that car’s superpower has always been thrift without the punishment. And then there’s the curveball: the Dacia Hipster, an 800 kg electric runabout targeting sub-£15k. That’s “everyone in” pricing in an era of bloated spec sheets and ballooning curb weights.

• Spring (2026): Handling updates, up to 99 bhp, still easy to park anywhere.
• Sandero (2026): Hybrid makes the daily grind cheaper and calmer.
• Hipster: 800 kg, sub-£15k target—proper people’s EV vibes.

Mahindra edges closer to Australia with value EV SUVs

CarExpert says Mahindra’s EV SUVs are inching toward Aussie showrooms. Price them right and they’ll be the “first EV” for families who want honesty over hype. When I tried their latest ICE SUVs on rutted country roads, the basics felt sorted—long-travel suspension, generous seats, zero drama. Add reliable charging guidance and clean infotainment and they’ll slot into school runs and hardware-store weekends without fuss.

Nissan Leaf Nismo if fans shout loud enough

A hotter Leaf? Apparently on the table if enough people wave their wallets. The standard Leaf already does “point and squirt” around town nicely—instant torque never gets old. With firmer dampers, stickier tires, and a bit of bracing, it could be a back-street grin machine. Just… go easy on the ride. The current car can get jittery over rapid-fire potholes, and a Nismo badge shouldn’t mean shopping-cart suspension.

MG’s “QS” family: filling the gaps with value-first trims

MG looks set to expand a QS-branded lineup. The brand’s been on a roll: useful spec at sane prices, and fewer trim-level games. If QS keeps that theme, it’ll be a crowd-pleaser in showrooms where people just want a fair deal and a car that does the job.

Trucks and tough stuff: after BYD dominates the EV market, the utes get serious

MG’s plug-in pickup plan lands between BYD Shark 6 and Ranger PHEV

Word is MG’s cooking up a PHEV ute to square off against BYD’s Shark 6 and Ford’s incoming Ranger PHEV. This is exactly what tradies and weekend warriors needed: silent early starts, diesel-like low-end shove from the e-motor, and enough juice to run tools at a campsite. I’ve hauled gravel in hybrids before—the off-the-line pull is addictive, and the fuel gauge moves like it’s in slow motion.

Nissan’s new off-road SUV aims at Toyota’s big guns

Whispers suggest Nissan’s prepping a proper off-road SUV to go toe-to-toe with Toyota’s trail royalty. If that means body-on-frame bones, useful approach and departure angles, and armor where it counts, I’m listening. The last Nissan 4x4 I took up a rutted fire trail felt tough but cried out for more travel and thicker skid plates. Bring it trail-ready, not just trail-styled.

• Buyer tip: Short commute plus weekend towing? A PHEV ute might be your sweet spot—charge daily, sip fuel on trips.
• Watch for: Payload and tow ratings with battery packaging, bed-liner durability near charge ports, and onboard power outputs.

What “BYD Dominates EV Market, Outselling Tesla” means for pickup buyers

When value leaders gain share, automakers chase specs. Expect richer base equipment and quicker refresh cycles. For pickups, that translates to bigger onboard inverters, smarter traction blending between e-motor and engine off-road, and more honest towing figures. Competition makes trucks better—simple as that.

Motorsport corner: mentors, mayhem, and playoff pressure

Ricciardo’s quiet hand behind Lawson

Autosport notes Daniel Ricciardo quietly shepherded Liam Lawson during last year’s post-Singapore shuffle. You don’t see that on highlight reels, but it’s gold for rookies. Best veterans are part coach, part therapist, part bulldozer—clearing the politics so the kid can just drive. I’ve watched that dance in paddocks for two decades; it matters.

NASCAR’s ROVAL: desperation makes great TV

Road & Track zeroed in on Ross Chastain’s do-or-bust move at the ROVAL, a case study in playoff chaos. I winced, then laughed, then worried for brake ducts. Purists can debate formats; families just want a show. Bring a first-timer to a playoff race and you’ll likely leave with a new fan in the house.

Curbside culture: the secret Porsche 911 that wasn’t meant to exist

Carscoops dug up a never-public 911—a skunkworks special with odd aero and parts-bin sorcery. I love these “what if” Porsches. They’re the beautiful mistakes that make production cars sharper. Behind every tidy Carrera spec sheet is a back room of late nights, cold pizza, and smart people trying weird things.

What it means for you

• Budget EVs are getting good: Dacia’s tweaks show you can commute electric without spending big.
• Utes are electrifying pragmatically: PHEV pickups deliver quiet torque and real-world range security.
• Choice is exploding: From Mahindra value plays to MG’s QS trims, the middle of the market is now the hot spot.

Quick specs and notes I’ll be watching

• Dacia Spring’s ride quality versus the outgoing car on broken urban tarmac.
• Real EV-only range on PHEV pickups with a loaded bed and highway speeds.
• Charging cable storage and app pairing in value EVs (no more trunk spaghetti, please).
• Whether a Leaf Nismo adds grip without ruining daily comfort.

Conclusion

BYD Dominates EV Market, Outselling Tesla—there’s your plot twist for the week. Add Dacia’s refreshingly honest cheap EVs, a wave of practical PHEV utes, and some motorsport drama, and it’s a proper enthusiast’s buffet. I’ll keep the boots muddy and the battery topped up, and report back when these headlines turn into test drives and dirty license plates.

FAQ

Is BYD really outselling Tesla now?

Recent tallies suggest yes, with BYD pulling ahead in several key markets. Timing and margins vary, but the momentum is unmistakable.

How much power does the updated Dacia Spring get?

Up to 99 bhp is being quoted for the 2026 update, alongside handling improvements aimed at making it less “city-only.”

Will there be a Nissan Leaf Nismo?

Not confirmed. Reports say Nissan is open to it if there’s enough demand—expect chassis tuning over raw power.

When can I buy a plug-in hybrid pickup like the Ranger PHEV?

It depends on your region. Ranger PHEV is rolling out in stages, BYD’s Shark 6 is already in select markets, and MG’s entrant is still in development.

Is the Dacia Hipster a real car?

Yes. Early reports describe an ultra-light (~800 kg) EV targeting a sub-£15k price—very much a back-to-basics commuter.