the battle for top spot in the electric car sector heats up, as chinese car—maker byd outpaces tesla in sales for the first time. plus, will taking drugs in tiny doses make you more efficient at work? we take a look at some of the worries around this trend in the us. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. our top story this hour begins with byd. the chinese ev maker has officially overtaken the american giant tesla in total fourth—quarter sales. tesla's record deliveries of more than 480,000 vehicles in the last three months of the year wasn't enough to cement its position in the top spot. the company's deliveries

is the closest estimation to its sales figures. 0ur north america business correspondent erin delmore reports. calls itself the big scarber brown you've never heard of, but it may be about to change. more of vehicles in the last three months than tesla did. that's a first. the american company is facing headwinds, higher borrowing costs in the us led to spelling demand —— slowing demand. but the chinese rival is a gluing, enjoying tailwinds with them unlike tesla, byob makes its own batteries, so controlling that part of the supply gives byd more ability to cut prices. as my colleague erin hasjust reported, tesla's latest number puts byd ahead of the curve. the chinese ev maker reported around three million in sales last year, but that number comprises both electric cars and hybrid vehicles.

but even as the competition us revving up, it's worth noting that in terms of overall deliveries in 2023, tesla still has byd beat. however, the chinese ev maker's could keep the momentum, especially with government incentives like tax breaks. that's according to ray wang from the constellation research consultancy, whom i spoke to earlier. it's amazing to see that demand is still strong and i think it's wonderfulfor byd, is still strong and i think it's wonderful for byd, hitting 229,000 vehicles. 1.6 million for the year. they're accelerating their units and their growth, but it's also not to say tesla didn't do poorly because they hit 1.8 million for the year. tesla came out ahead, but byd is showing a lot of momentum and growth. going into this new— of momentum and growth. going into this new year, _ of momentum and growth. going into this new year, how - of momentum and growth. going into this new year, how do - of momentum and growth. going into this new year, how do you i into this new year, how do you see this movie forward? this is

the important _ see this movie forward? this is the important thing. _ see this movie forward? this is the important thing. byd - see this movie forward? this is the important thing. byd and l the important thing. byd and tesla have created a price war around the world. byd has the batteries in the low cost in terms of wages. but tesla has the scaling capabilities and automation to get to compete against byd's numbers. tesla has bigger profits and bigger margins, but that's going to be and contingent for all to there's less tax breaks in the us. tesla will start to stop qualifying for them as we go into the new year. you're going to see other incentives coming into play and protection barriers are going to happen in europe and asia. it's going to be an interesting battle to watch. , , ., ,

watch. the industry for this ear? watch. the industry for this year? we're _ watch. the industry for this year? we're still _ watch. the industry for this year? we're still going - watch. the industry for this year? we're still going to l watch. the industry for this l year? we're still going to see urowth year? we're still going to see growth in _ year? we're still going to see growth in ev. _ year? we're still going to see growth in ev, but _ year? we're still going to see growth in ev, but there - year? we're still going to see growth in ev, but there still. growth in ev, but there still push back. china has 100 mw small blue gear racks holes and coal—fired plants —— nuclear reactors. we'll see slight blips as we look into 23 and four, but still the demand. to learn more about the competition between tesla and byd, you can visit our website at bbc.com/news or use the bbc news app. another american electric car—maker that's hit a bump in the road is rivian, which reported close to 111,000 in deliveries for the quarter ending december. that's much lower than wall street's expectations, sending shares down by more than 10%. maersk has suspended all shipping through the red sea and gulf of aden until further notice following an attack on one of its vessels from militants over the weekend. the danish logistics giant says it will re—route some vessels

around the cape of good hope in africa. houthi militants, based in yemen and backed by iran, have repeatedly attacked vessels in the red sea recently in response to the war in gaza. it has raised concerns about the disruptions to global trade through the waterway. by some estimates, about 12% of global trade and 3 million barrels of crude oil traverse the red sea every day. let's stay with news in china, because official figures show manufacturing has slowed for the third straight month in december. the data, which measures business sentiment, came in at 49 and a reading below 50 indicates a contraction. however, a private sector survey done by caixin suggests that factory activity had in fact expanded last month. to understand why these statistics are so different, we're speaking to louise loo from consultancy 0xford economics.

they could be held by more government signals. i they could be held by more government signals.- government signals. i think the 're government signals. i think they're quite _ government signals. i think they're quite positive - government signals. i think they're quite positive aboutj they're quite positive about this ability to... we think such stimulus will be very much infrastructure driven. a previous guest talked about the rise of ev. they will be quite concerned about the issue of overcapacity, so i think they will be quite kosice. i think the pyramid indicates that the labour market doesn't seem to be picking up or improving —— quite cautious. i think the support would come into play this year. support would come into play this ear. , , support would come into play this ear. , ., support would come into play this year-— this year. just a brief thought for 2024- _ this year. just a brief thought for 2024. we _ this year. just a brief thought for 2024. we have _ this year. just a brief thought for 2024. we have a - this year. just a brief thought for 2024. we have a view - this year. just a brief thought| for 2024. we have a view that the economy _ for 2024. we have a view that the economy to _ for 2024. we have a view that the economy to a _ for 2024. we have a view that the economy to a last - for 2024. we have a view that the economy to a last year. i the economy to a last year. that is quite a conservative

view. —— 4.4%. i think even with that growth, we still do need quite a meaningful stimulus because of the correction. we expect to be quite meaningfulfor the economy this year. quite meaningful for the economy this year. before we to. .. what if having a very small dose of drugs could make a big difference to your productivity? it's a rising trend in the us, with encouragement from some big names, and that's causing increasing concerns. michelle fleury has more. in the 60s, psychedelic drugs such as lsd or magic mushrooms were associated with long mind—bending trips, hallucinations and hippies. exploration, transformation... today, some are stretching to make taking drugs entirely —— is an attempt to improve focus

and creativity. this is called micro—dosing. i and creativity. this is called micro-dosing.— and creativity. this is called micro-dosina. ., , micro-dosing. i would sometimes take it a few _ micro-dosing. i would sometimes take it a few days _ micro-dosing. i would sometimes take it a few days in _ micro-dosing. i would sometimes take it a few days in a _ micro-dosing. i would sometimes take it a few days in a row - micro-dosing. i would sometimes take it a few days in a row and - take it a few days in a row and then not do it a few days in a row. carry out.— then not do it a few days in a row. carry out. donald, whose is named _ row. carry out. donald, whose is named on — row. carry out. donald, whose is named on change, - row. carry out. donald, whose is named on change, right - is named on change, right micro—doses regularly. he says that helps him work. hand micro-doses regularly. he says that helps him work.— that helps him work. and help ou aet that helps him work. and help you get into — that helps him work. and help you get into this _ that helps him work. and help you get into this calm - that helps him work. and help you get into this calm state i that helps him work. and help you get into this calm state of| you get into this calm state of flow. if you could do five hours of the work, in one hour, that's huge. not only are you doing that work, but you're more curious and more engaged, sometimes more a problem i want to solve or something i want to learn about. this gives me a way to think outside the box a little bit. . . ., . little bit. hallucinogenic drug use has increased _ little bit. hallucinogenic drug use has increased around - little bit. hallucinogenic drug i use has increased around those amongst 26 or older. as attitude change and more people micro—dose in the workplace, some employers are embracing

it, too. ~ ., some employers are embracing it, too. ~ . ., ~ some employers are embracing it, too. ~ . .,~ ., some employers are embracing it, too. . ., . it, too. we are taking a chance that it's polarising _ it, too. we are taking a chance that it's polarising at _ it, too. we are taking a chance that it's polarising at times. i that it's polarising at times. —— a stance. that it's polarising at times. -- a stance-— that it's polarising at times. -- a stance. ,, ., ., , -- a stance. shane heath is the founder and _ -- a stance. shane heath is the founder and ceo _ -- a stance. shane heath is the founder and ceo of _ founder and ceo of coffee alternate mud water. they'd only up portion of the product to research and education sub loop if somebody choose this as marketing is helpful, they are free to do this. irate marketing is helpful, they are free to do this.— free to do this. we don't encourage _ free to do this. we don't encourage or— free to do this. we don't encourage or subvert - free to do this. we don't i encourage or subvert this, free to do this. we don't - encourage or subvert this, but we don't have a policy that polices it. my experience, things that i went through, it was a personal choice to be an advocate _ was a personal choice to be an advocate. it was a personal choice to be an advocate-— the drug is being used illegal at the federal level. still, that hasn't stopped business leaders from indulging. it sounds like it...

leaders from indulging. it sounds like it. . ._ leaders from indulging. it sounds like it... 100%. most clients i sounds like it... 10096. most clients i would _ sounds like it... 10096. most clients i would say _ sounds like it... 10096. most clients i would say in - sounds like it... 10096. most clients i would say in this - sounds like it... 10096. most| clients i would say in this day and _ clients i would say in this day and age _ clients i would say in this day and age are _ clients i would say in this day and age are not— clients i would say in this day and age are not concerned i and age are not concerned around _ and age are not concerned around the _ and age are not concerned around the legal— and age are not concerned around the legal pieces. . and age are not concerned i around the legal pieces. they respect — around the legal pieces. they respect the _ around the legal pieces. they respect the laws. _ around the legal pieces. they respect the laws. that's - around the legal pieces. they respect the laws. that's a - respect the laws. that's a change _ respect the laws. that's a change from _ respect the laws. that's a change from five - respect the laws. that's a change from five plus - respect the laws. that's a i change from five plus years ago — change from five plus years ago there's _ change from five plus years ago. there's a _ change from five plus years ago. there's a lot _ change from five plus years ago. there's a lot of- ago. there's a lot of advancement - ago. there's a lot of advancement right. ago. there's a lot of. advancement right now ago. there's a lot of- advancement right now on the research — advancement right now on the research and _ advancement right now on the research and we _ advancement right now on the research and we see _ advancement right now on the research and we see the - research and we see the regulation _ research and we see the regulation change - research and we see the regulation change at - research and we see the - regulation change at different levels — regulation change at different levels. . , levels. there are risks - the supervisee _ levels. there are risks - the supervisee use _ levels. there are risks - the supervisee use could - levels. there are risks - the supervisee use could be - supervisee use could be damaging to those with certain conditions. but when the renewed interest, advocates hope it will help gain mainstream acceptance. michelle fleury, bbc news, new york. make sure you are aware of the drug laws in the country they reside in. that's it for asia business report. thanks for watching.

voiceover: bbc news - bringing you different - stories from across the uk. these carpentry workshops are especially for women and non—binary people. the vast majority of skilled tradespeople are men, and founder george adams thinks it's time to bust the myth that diy is just for boys. it's far more about technique and principle than how much muscle you've got in your bicep. it's just about how determined you are. georjie built her own tiny house from scratch, but at the timber yard and in hardware stores, she faced relentless sexism. tools being taken out of my hand without my consent, not being allowed to cut my own timber at the timber yard.

small commentary on my outfit, my workwear trousers. you know, i can't wear a tool belt any more because i got sick of hearing sexualised commentary. just facing that wall constantly of exclusion. that's why she set up this carpentry community, which she called in her hands. we don't see the skills that we're teaching here as a hobby or as a luxury. we see it as like a social necessity. for more stories . from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. cambridge and applicable. there is my five people have died on a coastguard plane and tokyo's airport. a fire started on the

passion or plane, but the 379 people on it were luckily safely evacuated. you can see the dramatic scenes of here, as passengers fled the plane out on inflatable slides. the costar plane was on its way to deliver aid to areas of a massive earthquake on monday would cause homes to collapse. the number of death is now believed to be at least 48 and allowed 1000 rescuers are searching for people they think may be trapped. a prison in scotland is putting hip—hop workshops on for inmates, as far as a unique rehabilitation programme. it aims to provide inmates with a creative outlet and new skills. its help me get back to my data. i'm tired of...

let's finish with ten seconds of two cats being cheeky and adorable as they have made a cambridge garden centre their second home. fatty has been visiting it for 15 years. that is the cat's name. his brother george visits too. i absolutely love it. you're all caught up. see you later.

hello, and welcome to sportsday. i'm paul scott at the bbc sports centre — here's what's coming up. a big moment for luke littler. the 16—year—old becomes the youngest—ever person to reach the pdc darts world championship final. a depleted west ham secure a fourth straight clean sheet as they're frustrated by brighton, in a goalless draw at the london stadium. on a different track — the retired racehorses learning fresh skills before finding new homes.