BYD is now offering its “God’s Eye” self-driving system for free on all its vehicles. The self-driving system will be introduced on 21 BYD NEV models this year without any additional fees like competitors like Tesla. Previously, BYD only offered self-driving systems on flagship vehicles priced above RMB 200,000 (~RM 122,000).
Now, it will be offered on affordable vehicles like the BYD Seagull at around RM43,000 each. BYD President Wang Chuanfu said the company sees self-driving systems becoming a standard feature on cars on the market within three years. He added that self-driving systems will be seen as something normal like seat belts and airbags.
However, the self-driving systems offered vary by model. The most powerful version of God’s Eye A (DiPilot 600) is offered on luxury vehicles like the Yanwang, which is equipped with three LiDAR cameras. The modest version of God’s Eye B (DiPilot 300) is available on the premium brands Denza, Dynasty, and Ocean, which are equipped with only one LiDAR. Finally, the God’s Eye C (DiPilot 100) is for affordable vehicles that are not equipped with LiDAR.
BYD’s move to provide the self-driving system for free is seen as an effort to dominate the increasingly competitive Chinese automotive market. It will also put pressure on Tesla, which charges a subscription to use its FSD self-driving system.