Tech Desk 
Feb 11, 2025
Chinese automotive giant BYD has revealed plans to launch cutting-edge self-driving technology across nearly all of its vehicles, including budget models priced below $10,000.
The company announced that it expects to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek’s software into its vehicles, following in the footsteps of local rivals such as Geely, Great Wall Motors, and Leapmotor.
BYD is considered one of the biggest rivals of Tesla in China and increasingly abroad, and Monday evening's announcement led analysts to suggest a great price war on the horizon.
BYD will install its "God's Eye" autonomous driving system in at least 21 models, such as the Seagull budget hatchback which is available for ¥69,800 (approx $9,550).
The system includes features, including remote parking and autonomous highway navigation previously available on more extravagant vehicles. Tesla has a few similar features available in its EVs that start from $32,000.
While highlighting the significance of self-driving technology BYD’s founder, Wang Chuanfu, during a live-streamed event on Monday, said: "Autonomous driving is no longer a remote rarity, it's a [...] necessary tool,"
Chuanfu predicted that self-driving technology is set to become an "indispensable tool like safety belts or airbags" in the upcoming years.
According to the company, the incorporation of DeepSeek would enhance self-driving technology and offer a customised experience for users.
The AI firm created waves last month after the launch of a chatbot to match its American rivals apparently without breaking the bank.
BYD’s stock soars as China’s EV market fuels up
Shares in BYD skyrocketed by 4.5% to a record high in Hong Kong on Tuesday, continuing a nearly 20% surge in the days leading up to Monday’s event.
China’s auto market, the world’s largest, has undergone a sustained pricing battle, as numerous EV manufacturers have to get market share.
Up to 11 million electric and hybrid vehicles will be sold across China in 2024, experiencing a 40% increase from 2023.
BYD accounted for approximately 4.2 million of those sales, along with its quarterly revenue surpassing its rival Tesla for the first time in Q3.
