Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson
Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson.
  • Lucid CEO Peter Rawlinson said Chinese automakers are still "years behind" Tesla on EV technology. 
  • He told a Financial Times conference that car companies should not "underestimate" Chinese firms.
  • Companies such as BYD are now challenging Tesla in China after years of rapid growth.

Chinese EV makers are challenging Tesla — but one of the company's rivals still thinks they're years away from overtaking Elon Musk's firm in one respect.