BYD has taken a significant step forward in its efforts to enhance its smart driving capabilities by forming a forward-looking team dedicated to the use of end-to-end technology. This move comes in the wake of similar restructuring efforts by other prominent electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers like Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto.
According to local media reports, the new team at BYD will be led by Xu Lingyun, who previously headed Tianxuan, the company’s team responsible for researching and developing smart driving technologies. While the team is still in its early stages and comprises fewer than 50 members, it signals BYD’s commitment to leveraging end-to-end technology for future advancements in its EV offerings.
In a strategic realignment, BYD’s existing smart driving team, Tianlang, will absorb most of the R&D personnel from Tianxuan. Tianlang, led by Li Feng, boasts a workforce of over 1,000 employees and is at the forefront of developing high-level intelligent driving solutions on platforms with low computing power.
The introduction of end-to-end technology in smart driving systems represents a departure from traditional rules-based approaches, aiming to enhance driver assistance capabilities by leveraging AI algorithms to address a wider range of driving scenarios. This shift has gained momentum in the industry following the success of Tesla’s FSD V12 release earlier this year.
BYD’s smart driving computing platform, DiPilot, is designed to accommodate varying levels of computing power. For instance, DiPilot 100 utilizes chips from Nvidia and Horizon Robotics, while DiPilot 300 and 600 offer higher levels of performance based on Nvidia’s Orin X chips.
The company’s roadmap includes implementing advanced autonomous driving features, such as Navigate on Autopilot (NOA), on its DiPilot platforms, with plans to roll out city-ready capabilities on luxury models under its Yangwang sub-brand by mid-next year. These developments underscore BYD’s commitment to staying at the forefront of smart driving technologies in the rapidly evolving EV landscape.
Recent reports suggest that BYD is on track to mass-produce its in-house developed smart driving algorithms as early as November, following a series of organizational changes aimed at accelerating innovation and enhancing competitiveness in the EV market. This strategic focus on end-to-end technology underscores BYD’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that redefine the future of smart mobility.