The Chinese brand has taken a significant step by launching God’s Eye, an autonomous technology aimed at rivaling Tesla’s offerings but with a different strategy: bringing this innovation to all its vehicles, regardless of price. Unlike the American company, BYD wants all its customers, no matter which model they choose, to have access to the benefits of autonomous driving.
A clear example of this approach is that God’s Eye will even be available in the Seagull, BYD’s most economical model, which is expected to arrive in the United States with a price tag below $10,000. “We are entering an era where autonomous driving is accessible to everyone,” stated Wang Chuanfu, CEO of BYD, during the system’s presentation.
This means that, in the future, all BYD vehicles could feature this technology, regardless of their range or price. However, it is still unclear whether older models will be able to receive an update to integrate God’s Eye, as this feature may be reserved for new releases that include the necessary hardware.
BYD’s announcement comes at a key moment, as Tesla is trying to obtain the necessary permits to implement its full self-driving system in China. Meanwhile, BYD, being a local company, will likely face fewer regulatory hurdles in gaining approval for its technology.
What does God’s Eye offer?
God’s Eye promises to provide full autonomous driving on highways, although it has not yet been specified to what extent the driver can disengage from the wheel. It is also unclear whether vehicles equipped with this system will be able to travel from one point to another completely autonomously or if it is a more advanced assistance system, similar to existing lane-keeping technologies.
Additionally, BYD has confirmed that cars with God’s Eye will be able to park remotely via a mobile app, a feature that could be groundbreaking in Western markets.
However, it is unlikely that God’s Eye will leave China in the short term. Europe is still evaluating how to regulate autonomous driving and what types of systems to allow, so it is probable that, for now, this technology will only be available in the Chinese market.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director