BYD is taking the world by a storm with this new technology. As the world continues to make significant progress in technological advancement, different forms of futuristic technology is emerging among competing entities in order to secure their spot as number one. In the automobile world, the past ten years in the industry has been dominated by competition for who has dominance in the electrical engine sphere. Now, the focus may be shifting towards more futuristic projects.
Tesla’s shift towards automation
Since Tesla’s release of the Roadster in 2008, the American company has fast risen to be one of the most iconic names in the world of electrical vehicle technology. The brand is largely attributed has being influential in reframing the electrical engine as a luxury and desirable product. Further, their advanced battery technology paved the way for other automobile companies to up their game when it comes to alternative engines.
Now, however, Tesla seems to be shifting their focus. With nearly all major automobile companies now offering their own electrical and alternative engine model options, the electric giant is looking to find a new market place to exert dominance in. The direction the company appears to be going in now is redefining the automobile world with successful implementation of autonomous technology. However, Tesla may have more competition this time around.
BYD’s autonomous technology competes with Tesla
Currently, Tesla offers the following autonomous driving technological products:
- Autopilot
- Full Self-Driving (Supervised)
Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is Tesla’s more advanced autonomous driving option, whereby your vehicle can navigate, lane change, steer, and other features on its own. However, Tesla and continuously stated that you still need to be alert and aware as a driver when using the technology, as it is not equivalent to full autonomous driving. Tesla has consistently received backlash for the technology and its involvement in vehicle crashes.
However, Tesla is not the only one working towards autonomous vehicle driving. China’s electrical vehicle company BYD has announced that they will be including their own autonomous technology in all their vehicles going forward. Dubbed ‘God’s Eye,’ the technology is not only just as competitive as Tesla’s but offers a much more attractive price seeing as Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is an additional $8,000. Alternatively, BYD’s entry-point vehicle costs $9,300 and includes the God’s Eye technology.
While BYD will be implementing the technology on a tiered system, with more advanced technology being included in their more luxury vehicles, the inclusion of the technology into all their vehicles remains a gamechanger for the industry, where autonomous technology may be set to become a standard norm in vehicles instead of an optional add-on.
“[G]ood technology should be available to everyone,” says BYD’s CEO Wang Chuanfu
Tesla’s Robotaxi’s finally it the roads
While Tesla has remained dominant in the US with regards to electrical vehicle sales, BYD has outperformed them in terms of global sales consistently since 2022. However, not to be deterred, Tesla continues to look towards being a significant player in the future of autonomous driving. The company recently rolled out their Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas in a pilot program for their employees on June 22.
The cybercabs form part of a broader vision for Tesla to start introducing a ride service across the nation, all with no driver. Other companies also looking to start with their own autonomous ride service include Alphabet-owned Waymo and Amazon-owned Zoox’s who are also being piloted in Austin. However, there are still a number of regulatory hurdles companies will have to face when it comes to offering fully autonomous driving technology, but the technology does seem to be the future of the automobile world.
