> Like if Tesla gives you 700 mi range but Audi does 500mi, does anyone really care?
In this case, yes, because current battery tech charges much faster from 0-80% of the battery, so a battery with more range than you'll use is still beneficial because it'll charge faster for the portion you do use. But I'm being snarky--that's not your point.
Tesla's advantage is far more than just range.
* The battery management system, which minimizes battery degradation (google "nissan leaf degradation")
* The manufacturing process adopted to actual EVs (and not shoehorning an EV into an ICE car design)
* The lack of dealerships and resulting ability to push software updates to cars containing new features
* The standardization of self-driving hardware -- all Teslas made since ~2016 have the camera hardware set up in the same positions
* The actual ownership of the software / UI and it actually being done well, when most other manufacturers seem to be shooting for "passable, I guess"
* The big touchscreen UI, which is (effectively) the same across all models, which makes keeping software up-to-date much easier
It's just not even close. Other manufacturers can improve battery tech, too, but these other things require bold action that traditional manufacturers are too slow / cautious / encumbered to take.