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BYD will invest 100 billion yuan (US$14 billion) to develop smart car capabilities. This was stated by its founder and CEO Wang Chuanfu, who however did not provide a specific timing for the investment or more details. The move comes as the Chinese automaker seeks to close the gap with rivals that make vehicles with driver assistance systems and other advanced technologies, such as Tesla. BYD plans to introduce what it calls “Navigation on Autopilot,” which will allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and feet off the pedals in certain contexts. The system requires drivers to touch the steering wheel every 15” for safety and will be installed in cars costing more than 300,000 yuan.
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It will also be available as an upgrade option for vehicles priced above 200,000 yuan. In China, smart cars can be used on autopilot on some highways and cities, as well as park themselves. BYD’s Navigation on Autopilot feature is already installed on the Denza N7 EV. It will be added to the Yangwang brand’s luxury models, Chuanfu said, and likely to some of the more mainstream series.
Additionally, BYD is also considering adding non-driving features to improve drivers’ experience. For example, the Yangwang U8, which retails for around 1 million yuan, will be available with a drone mounted on the vehicle and the steering wheel so that it can be detached from the steering column to be used, along with the car’s pedals, to play video games such as car racing games. In some of its other, more expensive models, BYD plans to add palm-print motion sensor technology to allow drivers to open car doors by waving.