BYD Shakes up EV Market with Free Driver Assistance on Budget-friendly Models

By Evans Momodu
2 minute digest

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has made waves by adding its advanced "God’s Eye" driver-assistance system to most of its models at no extra cost.

Now available in cars starting at just 69,800 yuan ($9,555), the move has sent BYD’s shares to a record high and is expected to intensify competition in the world’s largest car market.

Key Highlights:

• BYD’s Stock Surge: Shares jumped 4% in Hong Kong trading after the announcement.
• Affordable Intelligent Driving: Previously available only in models over $30,000, BYD now includes the "God’s Eye" system on budget-friendly cars.
• Competitive Pressure: Tesla, which charges $99/month or $8,000 for its Full Self-Driving feature, may need to rethink its pricing in China.
• AI Integration: BYD plans to integrate DeepSeek AI, a chatbot rivalling OpenAI’s ChatGPT, into its vehicles.
• Market Domination: BYD accounted for over 32% of China’s new energy vehicle sales in 2024, ranking sixth globally in car sales.

BYD’s aggressive pricing and tech strategy put pressure on rivals like Tesla, Xpeng, and Geely Auto. With China leading the global EV race, affordability and innovation will be key battlegrounds.

This development certainly puts Tesla and other competitors on the edge, forcing them to rethink their strategies.
Source: CNN