BYD is planning to shift its focus towards smart driving features in order to drive sales growth next year, as the impact of price advantage starts to diminish. The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer intends to introduce variants with smart driving capabilities for all its models in 2025, as reported by local media outlet 36kr.
This strategic move will encompass all models in BYD’s lineup, ranging from the affordable BYD Seagull to the luxurious Yangwang U8. The BYD Seagull, an A0-class electric vehicle based on the e-Platform 3.0, is currently available in three variants with prices starting at RMB 69,800. On the other hand, the Yangwang U8, launched earlier this year with a starting price of RMB 1.098 million, represents BYD’s foray into the ultra-luxury segment.
To expedite the development process, BYD’s research and development team has been working relentlessly, sacrificing weekends to ensure the timely integration of intelligent driving features across the entire model range. Zhang Zhuo, BYD’s head of Ocean series sales, has expressed the company’s ambition to make smart driving systems standard in models priced around or below RMB 150,000 within the next 2-3 years.
Recent reports suggest that BYD is accelerating its efforts in intelligent driving technology development. The company aims to incorporate its in-house developed smart driving algorithms into mass production as early as November. BYD’s intelligent driving computing platform, DiPilot, will feature different branches depending on computing power, with plans to implement advanced functionalities like NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) on highways and urban areas.
With NEV sales reaching 3,250,532 units in the first ten months of 2024, representing a 36.49 percent year-on-year increase, BYD is on track to achieve significant sales growth this year. If sales for the remaining two months remain consistent, full-year sales are projected to reach approximately 4.3 million vehicles, a 42 percent increase from the previous year.
BYD’s emphasis on smart driving capabilities reflects its commitment to innovation and technological advancement, positioning the company for continued success in the competitive NEV market. As BYD continues to prioritize intelligent features over other aspects of its business strategy, its efforts in research and development are poised to shape the future of smart mobility.
