BYD said on Monday that more than two dozen vehicle models now include its “proprietary” advanced driver-assistance system as a standard feature with no price increase, adding that its $10,000 car is capable of taking a 600-mile joyride on Chinese highways without driver intervention.
The world’s top electric vehicle maker announced (in Chinese) in a press conference that it is “democratizing” consumer car autonomy with the launch of 21 refreshed popular models, including the Seagull mini EV, the Qin Plus sedan, and the Dolphin hatchback. All models feature the so-called “God’s Eye” ADAS systems in conjunction with multiple different sensors, while remaining at the same prices as their previous generations.
All BYD cars priced above RMB 100,000 ($13,686) will come equipped with the God’s Eye system at no extra cost as will most of the company’s lower priced models, according to chairman Wang Chuanfu.
Why it matters: BYD’s progress in autonomous driving has exceeded “our expectations” in terms of the number of models equipped with the new ADAS and their affordability, analysts from China’s Citic Securities wrote in a note to clients on Monday (our translation).
- The Chinese brokerage initially predicted a price increase of RMB 3,000 to cover the cost of the feature, and expected BYD models priced at RMB 150,000 or higher to support the feature. Xpeng Motors, an early mover in the field, had already introduced this aggressive price point with the launch of its hot-selling MONA M03 last year.
Details: By lowering the threshold for the mass deployment of ADAS technologies, BYD has made significant strides in catching up with Tesla and Xpeng in the race for autonomous driving technologies. Many expect this move to enhance the appeal of the company’s vehicles, further boosting its sales and consolidating its leadership in China’s highly competitive auto market.
- The latest-generation Seagull is a stunning example of how BYD’s initiative could change the perspective of Chinese consumers on autonomous driving. The company said the budget car, featuring an entry-level version of the God’s Eye software and priced at only RMB 69,800, can now navigate through Chinese highways and park itself without assistance in various circumstances. Rival Xpeng launched similar features back in early 2021.
- Additionally, without relying on expensive lidar sensors, the cars would be able to operate autonomously on fixed routes for daily commuters in major Chinese cities with heavy traffic by the end of this year, BYD said. By contrast, Tesla currently offers Chinese owners access to its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software for a one-time fee of RMB 64,000 with models priced RMB 227,500 and above.
- The two higher-end versions of the God’s Eye are said to have better capabilities, supported by at least one lidar sensor, and are available with BYD’s more expensive models, starting at RMB 200,000. The Denza N7 crossover and the Yangwang U8 off-road vehicle were among the first models capable of automatically navigating complex urban environments nationwide, the Chinese EV giant said last December (in Chinese).
- Wang praised the strong capabilities of BYD’s ADAS, saying those who operate the company’s vehicles with the God’s Eye system will not need to input any commands while traveling on Chinese highways for more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). Additionally, its automated emergency braking (AEB) system can operate at a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). By comparison, Huawei has stated that its AEB system operates at more than 130 km/h.
Context: The news comes a year after BYD announced a long-term initiative of spending RMB 100 billion in research and development to achieve “full-scale vehicle automation.” The company reported sales of nearly 4.3 million EVs last year, and Citic analysts estimated that the number would hit 5.2 million units this year with an expected growth rate of 22%.
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