BYD is pushing into new price dimensions and for the first time offers autonomous driving assistance systems in electric vehicles for less than $ 10,000.
BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, introduced a significant market innovation on February 10, 2024. The company equipped all BYD brand models over 100,000 Yuan ($ 13,688) with its company’s own driver assistance system “God’s Eye”. In addition, the system was integrated into three models below 100,000 yuan, whereby the cheapest model, the Seagull, is available from 69,800 Yuan (about $ 9,555).
This development marks a strategic turning point in the market for autonomous driving systems. So far offered Byd Such functions only in models from $ 30,000, while competitor Tesla Comparable systems in China only offers from $ 32,000. Other Chinese manufacturers like Xpeng Mona and Leap engine also offered affordable electric vehicles with intelligent driving functions, but the previous low price was $ 15,000 for the Baojun Yunhai from Saic–General Motors-Wuling.
BYD also integrated AI models from Deepseek into its Xuanji Smart Car Architecture. Company founder Wang Chuanfu predicted that intelligent driving functions would become an indispensable equipment, comparable to seat belts and airbags. The strategy aims to achieve a “flywheel effect” in the further development of Chinese smart driving technology through the broad use of the technology.
Market analysts see the beginning of a new price war in this development. BYD, which already sold four million vehicles in the previous year, could further expand its market position through this innovation. The announcement led to an increase in BYD shares by 16 percent within a few days, which reflects the great market interest in this technological offensive.