China’s BYD to Build Autopilot Even into $10,000 Electric Cars to Compete with Teals and Others

It is no secret that Chinese automakers are forced to operate in conditions of the most severe competition, which is especially pronounced in the electric vehicle segment. The leader of the local market remains the company BYD, which is already threatening Tesla’s position in the global market. The Chinese giant announced that advanced driver assistance systems will be available on the cheapest models of the brand, which cost less than $ 10,000.

Image source: BYD

As noted by the South China Morning Post, at least 21 BYD EV and hybrid models will feature active driver assistance systems of at least SAE Level 2 in the foreseeable future. According to BYD founder and chairman Wang Chuanfu, these steps will symbolize the beginning of a new era that will provide access to “smart” driving for all customers. BYD’s autopilot system, ambitiously named God’s Eye, will exceed market expectations by leveraging the work of a team of 5,000 engineers over the past seven years.

According to analysts, two-thirds of new cars sold on the Chinese market will be equipped with some form of autopilot. At least 15 million new cars that will appear on the Chinese market this year will have at least level two autonomy according to the SAE classification. It requires the driver to constantly monitor the traffic situation and keep their hands on the steering wheel, but technically it allows for the automation of many types of maneuvers. The driver must be ready to intervene in the control process at any time.

According to Goldman Sachs analysts, such an initiative by BYD will have a significant impact on the Chinese car market, but will require serious efforts from the company to eliminate the gap with competitors, the most successful of which are XPeng, Huawei (Seres and Aito) and Nio. The market leader, BYD, has a certain chance to turn the situation in its favor, as experts believe. In recent years, the cost of the active driver assistance system of the second level has dropped to $ 1,400 per car, having halved in three years. Tesla is only testing its FSD system in China and has not received permission for its use by owners of serial electric cars. In addition, FSD activation in the US costs $ 8,000, while BYD provides its second-level autopilot to customers at no additional charge. This option will be an additional incentive in the competitive struggle.