Meet The “Other” EV Brands Challenging Tesla’s Domination

As Tesla continues to dominate the global EV conversation, a wave of upstart and established players—many of them based in China—are rising fast, offering compelling alternatives based on affordability, innovation, and scale. A recent comparative study by Slot.Day lays bare the shifting dynamics in the EV landscape, assessing automakers across sales, search interest, safety, price, and electric range.

Leading the charge is BYD, which now tops the list as the most viable EV alternative to Tesla, accrording to a new report by Slot.Day. 

With over 2.6 million units sold and more than 600,000 monthly Google searches, BYD blends scale with visibility. Prices range from a modest $13,900 to a luxury-tier $65,830, while its vehicles achieve an average 445 km range and top safety ratings. It’s a rare mix of affordability, mass appeal, and performance—an EV juggernaut grounded in realism rather than aspiration.

In second place, SAIC Maxus is perhaps the most underrated name on the list. It offers the lowest entry-level EV at just $4,460—a figure that borders on the absurd in today’s market—and backs it up with a perfect 5-star safety score and a respectable 365 km range. This kind of value-driven engineering speaks directly to practical consumers rather than subsidy-chasing status seekers.

The Slot.Day report says that Changan, in third, makes its mark with a stellar 95% adult occupant protection rating and a 450 km range. While not yet globally synonymous with electric innovation, its performance metrics suggest it soon might be. The Deepal SL03 has particularly impressed in the mid-price market, starting around $16,400.

Further down the list, Wuling ranks fourth thanks to astonishing sales of over 370,000 units and a starting price of just $6,400. Though its average range is a modest 300 km, it thrives in dense urban environments where range anxiety is minimal. The tiny but mighty Wuling Hongguang Mini EV proves that minimalist mobility has a devoted customer base.

Aion stands out with the longest average range at 520 km and remains price-competitive, offering models between $17,800 and $29,000. Though not fully ANCAP-tested, its high safety rating (4.6 out of 5) and expanding lineup push it into fifth place.

Outside China, few non-domestic brands crack the top rankings. Volkswagen Group, despite strong brand recognition and more than 1.6 million monthly searches, is weighed down by high pricing and middling EV sales. Its ID.4 maintains the group’s reputation but struggles to outpace nimbler rivals.

Nio, Leapmotor, and Geely round out the top ten with mixed results—each showing promise in select metrics but lacking the comprehensive strength to push into the top tier. Nio appeals to premium buyers, while Leapmotor targets the budget segment with modest ranges and excellent safety. Geely, versatile but uneven, finds itself in a middle ground that may appeal to some but excite few.

Hyundai, the sole Korean entry, closes the list at tenth. Despite solid safety marks and over 860,000 monthly searches, it lags in sales and innovation compared to its Chinese peers. Its Ioniq series shows promise but faces fierce competition from more agile, lower-cost challengers.

The broader message from this data? The center of gravity in the EV world is shifting East, driven not by regulation or ESG posturing, but by market forces—price, safety, and efficiency. Tesla remains the aspirational brand, but for millions of global buyers, especially those not chasing subsidies or status, it’s these emerging names—often quietly efficient, fiercely cost-effective, and proudly pragmatic—that are shaping the real electric revolution, the study concluded.

A spokesperson said: “Electric vehicle shoppers today are showing a clear shift in priorities. What once revolved around brand recognition is now driven by a mix of everyday considerations—price, range, safety, and availability. The data points to a maturing market where buyers are more willing to explore newer names and lesser-known models if the value is clear. It’s no longer just about who made the car, but what it offers in real terms.”

You can access the full study research here.