EEYAUT Waihung
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD has intensified the competition in the global automotive market by introducing its proprietary advanced driver-assistance system, “God’s Eye,” to most of its vehicle lineup at no additional cost. The strategic move, which allows even budget-conscious Chinese customers to access high-level driving tech in models priced as low as 69,800 yuan (approximately $9,555), sent the company’s shares soaring to a record high.
The announcement came during an event held at BYD’s headquarters in Shenzhen on Monday. Company Chairman Wang Chuanfu declared that 2025 would be “the first year of intelligent driving for all,” predicting that high-level driver-assistance technologies would become standard automobile features, as essential as seat belts and airbags, within the next three years.
Previously, the “God’s Eye” feature—introduced in 2023 to support enhanced navigation—was only available in higher-end BYD models priced above $30,000. By expanding the system across its broader vehicle range, BYD has significantly lowered the barrier to access for Chinese consumers eager for smart driving capabilities.
The move immediately resonated in the financial markets. According to Refinitiv data, BYD’s shares surged more than 4% when trading began in Hong Kong on Tuesday, reaching an all-time high. The stock was last seen trading at 330 Hong Kong dollars (around $42).
Industry analysts believe this bold pricing strategy could escalate the already fierce EV price war in China, the world’s largest car market. “This puts their competitors on their heels,” said Tu Le, founder and managing director of consultancy Sino Auto Insights. “It’s a major move that challenges the value proposition of other brands.”
Tesla, BYD’s most notable global rival, offers its comparable Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in the United States either as a subscription service for $99 per month or as a one-time payment of $8,000. However, the American automaker has yet to gain regulatory approval to begin trials of the system in China, a key market where it faces increasing pressure from local competitors like BYD.
Tu Le added that Tesla might be forced to rethink its subscription-based pricing model in China, particularly as BYD sets a new benchmark for accessibility. The competitive landscape is shifting rapidly: BYD overtook Tesla in global battery electric vehicle sales for the first time in the final quarter of 2023. While both companies experienced a dip in sales during the first quarter of 2025, the long-term rivalry is intensifying.
The announcement also sent shockwaves through the Chinese EV sector. Shares of BYD’s domestic competitors, including Xpeng and Geely Auto, dropped on Tuesday amid investor concerns that they might struggle to keep pace with BYD’s aggressive strategy.
Wang also used the Monday event to highlight BYD’s dominance in the domestic market. Quoting research from state-linked media outlet Cailianshe, he noted that BYD ranked sixth in global automobile sales and that Geely held the tenth spot. In China alone, BYD accounted for more than 32% of new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in 2024, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association.
In a further bid to stay ahead of the innovation curve, BYD announced plans to integrate DeepSeek—an AI model developed by a Chinese startup that gained global attention last month for its high-performing chatbot rivaling OpenAI’s ChatGPT—into its future vehicles. This integration aims to enhance the in-car user experience through intelligent voice interaction and next-generation AI functionality.
BYD’s announcement underscores its reputation for leveraging price and innovation to outmaneuver competitors. The company has long adopted aggressive pricing tactics; the EV price war originally sparked by Tesla in 2023 has escalated to the point where BYD requested its suppliers late last year to implement 10% price cuts for 2024 to help maintain its competitive edge.
As the global EV market becomes increasingly saturated, BYD’s latest move reaffirms its ambition to lead through a combination of technological accessibility, smart pricing, and market responsiveness. With new developments on both the hardware and AI fronts, BYD is shaping the next chapter in the battle for supremacy in the electric vehicle industry.
