Alabama retiree owns a BYD and Tesla, but he prefers the Chinese car so much he might give the Tesla away
Published on Jun 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jun 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
A retiree from Alabama owns both a BYD and a Tesla, but he might consider giving the latter away, as he loves the hybrid Chinese car so much.
American John Romer is a 73-year-old former radiologist who is spending much of his retirement living in Mexico, where Chinese cars have become quite popular.
As a Tesla owner, he ended up purchasing a BYD Song Plus hybrid SUV in October 2024, and it didn’t take long for him to fall in love with it.
In fact, he loves it so much that he might give away the Tesla Model 3 that he also owns.
DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars
The BYD is a very affordable hybrid car
Romer bought the BYD for just $41,000 and has driven it since November 2024.
Speaking to Business Insider, the American explained he was getting 40MPG with the car, and was enjoying the flexibility of a hybrid.
The only thing preventing him from buying the full EV version was that Mexico lacks the charging infrastructure.
At his Alabama home, Romer has a Tesla Model 3, which he bought around two years ago.
However, he now uses the BYD Song most of the time and is thinking of giving the Tesla away.
As his grandson turns 16 in 2026, he is tempted to give him the Model 3 as his first car.
One reason for this is because of how much more flexible the BYD is for the Alabama retiree.
Driving from Alabama to Kentucky in the Model 3 means Romer has to recharge it at some point.
The Tesla autopilot mode is also something that he doesn’t care for, as it is unable to handle certain scenarios.
Romer said that in traffic circles and around construction work, the autopilot mode really struggles.
The quality of the Song is higher than the Tesla
Another factor is that Romer believes the quality of the BYD is higher than the Model 3.
Tesla is known to have some quality control issues, and he feels the Song is better in that aspect.
He also says the Chinese hybrid has better tech than its American counterpart.
The tariffs currently imposed on Chinese cars in America mean many US drivers will miss out on the BYD.
Romer believes that it is a great shame they will do so, given how good his BYD Song is.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
