China's Budget Electric Vehicle Manufacturer, BYD, Introduces Advanced Level Self-Driving Functionality for $10,000 Vehicles
Tesla's lofty market value isn't solely attributed to its car-making prowess anymore. The company is increasingly seen as an AI and robotics company, with its focus shifting towards self-driving software and robotic labor replacement. Yet, the self-driving space is getting crowded. Waymo, for instance, has been providing fully autonomous taxis and is expanding across the US, while Chinese companies are making significant strides in this field as well.
One such company is BYD. They recently announced they'll be integrating their "God's Eye" intelligent driving features into their budget-friendly Seagull, a car priced at only $9,500. Previously, they only offered these features in more expensive models. BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu believes that good technology should be accessible to all. Their vehicles, including models from the Ocean, Han, Song, and Yuan lineups, will now come equipped with remote parking via smartphones and autonomous overtaking on roads.
BYD developed this technology in-house, and it will equip their mass-market models with features typically found in upscale EVs. The level of autonomy in each car will depend on the sensors it's equipped with. Their pricier cars will include LiDAR sensors for better object detection, while Tesla, led by Elon Musk, believes camera data alone is sufficient for autonomous driving. Musk has mentioned a limited version of autonomous taxicab service could launch in 2025.
China has prioritized the transition to electric vehicles, and BYD's profitability in this sector is a testament to this. They sold over 4 million cars in 2024 and have expanded into markets like Europe and South America. However, critics in the US argue that China should stop subsidizing industries like automotive to prevent flooding other countries with their products. Yet, BYD has become self-sustainable, no longer relying on government support.
BYD started as a battery manufacturer for other companies. Recognizing the importance of batteries in electric vehicles, they began manufacturing their own cars over 15 years ago. Videos from China suggest that their self-driving technology matches Tesla's Full-Self Driving (FSD), although Tesla's strict rules in China have made launching FSD there challenging. Regardless, Tesla has been preoccupied with other matters, like arguing over political controversies and cutting inconsequential line items from US spending.
In the future, budget-friendly cars like BYD's Seagull might feature advanced technology previously only available in luxury models, such as remote parking and autonomous overtaking. Demonstrating their technological prowess, Chinese companies are making significant strides in the self-driving field, challenging tech giants like Tesla, which believes in using camera data alone for autonomous driving.
