BYD One-Up Tesla with Cheaper Autopilot - Tech News Today
China’s electric vehicle (EV) sector is rapidly advancing its autonomous driving technology, with BYD unveiling a new smart driving system set to be integrated into all its models. Following similar announcements from Geely and Dongfeng regarding AI-driven driving solutions, BYD’s latest move makes high-tech driver assistance accessible even in its entry-level vehicles, including the budget-friendly BYD Seagull, which starts at just $9,300.
The New "God's Eye" System
The new system, called “God’s Eye,” consists of three tiers, each designed to offer varying levels of assisted driving capabilities. The most advanced version, God’s Eye A (DiPilot 600), features three LiDAR sensors and will be available exclusively on BYD’s luxury Yangwang brand. A step below, God’s Eye B (DiPilot 300) utilizes a single LiDAR unit and is designated for the semi-premium Denza brand and flagship BYD models.
However, the most groundbreaking tier is God’s Eye C (DiPilot 100), which relies solely on cameras and radar sensors, bringing advanced driver assistance to lower-priced models.
Features of the DiPilot 100 System
The DiPilot 100 system includes 12 cameras, five millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, providing an extensive level of monitoring and automation. Initially, this version will only support highway navigation, while higher tiers will offer full NOA (Navigate-on-Autopilot) functionality on both highways and city streets.
BYD has confirmed plans to expand city navigation capabilities to the base tier in the future. Additionally, all three systems will be integrated with DeepSeek AI, further enhancing the vehicles’ intelligence and automation potential.
Industry Impact
This development represents a significant shift in the automotive industry, where advanced driver assistance has traditionally been reserved for high-end models due to the high costs of sensors and AI-driven technology. BYD is breaking this trend by making these features standard across its lineup without increasing vehicle prices. This move could set a new industry standard, pushing other manufacturers to follow suit in democratizing smart driving technology.
BYD’s aggressive pricing strategy has already put pressure on competitors in China’s EV market, sparking a price war among automakers.
While this latest announcement is not a direct price reduction, adding sophisticated smart-driving technology at no extra cost further strengthens BYD’s competitive edge. With these advancements, it will be increasingly difficult for rival manufacturers to compete without implementing similar innovations in their vehicles.
