BYD provides free autonomous driving features but NZ has to wait

BYD has announced a major rollout of its smart driving technology, equipping all its cars in China with driver assistance systems at no extra cost.

BYD New Zealand brand manager Warren Willmot confirms the new smart driving systems will eventually be introduced here, adding it’s potentially several years away for NZ.

So says New Zealand Autocar, adding the move is set to shake up the Chinese market and that BYD has divided its “God’s Eye” system into three tiers.

These are God’s Eye A (DiPilot 600) featuring up to three lidar units for ultra-luxury Yangwang models, God’s Eye B (DiPilot 300) with a single lidar unit for premium Denza models and high-end BYDs like the Han and Song, and God’s Eye C (DiPilot 100) – a camera-based system without lidar for the rest of the line-up, including entry-level models.

BYD chairman and president Wang Chuanfu says advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) will soon be as essential as seatbelts and airbags.

The smart driving technology has been added to 21 models – 11 in BYD’s Ocean series and 10 in the Dynasty series – without any increase in price, says NZ Autocar.