☕️ Good morning, friends,

This morning we’re sending greetings from 2,400 meters above sea level — so don’t be surprised if today’s issue feels a bit short of breath. We’re in Lijiang, Yunnan province, enjoying the local mushrooms and other delicacies.

And with a small medical miracle, we’ll send you off into the weekend: the body of a boy in northern China was so deformed from birth that he looked like a Z. After countless surgeries and therapies, he can now walk upright again. The before-and-after photos are truly astonishing…

P.S. With the code ASIABITSFRIENDS you get 10% off all China Insider travel guides.

BENCHMARKS

NUMBER OF THE DAY

-40%

That’s how sharply Tesla’s sales in Europe fell in July. BYD, by contrast, reported triple-digit growth.

💥 Tesla’s Downward Spiral: New Tesla registrations dropped to 8,837, while BYD surged 225 percent to 13,503.

🚀 China’s Dominance: Chinese automakers hit a record market share of over 5 percent in Europe, while established brands like Jeep, Hyundai, Toyota, and Suzuki struggled with declining sales.

Watch: China’s EV makers are growing at breakneck speed. For Tesla, a model refresh and an entry into lower price segments may be crucial to stay competitive.

TOP BIT

🧱LEGO: Record Sales and Expansion Into Asia

The Danish toy giant Lego posted record revenue of USD 5.4 billion in the first half of 2025 — its best result ever. Growth was driven mainly by strong sales in the US and Europe, alongside an increasing focus on Asia. In India, Lego opened its first stores, while a new factory in Vietnam went online. In China, sales rebounded after a weak year.

The Details

💰 Record Figures: Revenue rose …