The BYD Han electric automobile, shown on the 2021 Shanghai Motor Show, is some of the popular new energy vehicles in China.
Evelyn Cheng | CNBC
SHENZHEN, China – a large of electric vehicles BYD relies on new driver assistance technology to make driving smoother.
BYD, backed by Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway, announced on Monday a new technology system to stabilize the automobile’s ride through uneven terrain, sharp turns and even shallow water. Cushioning technology is claimed to be a feature of the recently launched premium brand Yangwang.
“Traditionally, luxury cars have been defined by brand and history. For new-energy luxury vehicles, it is a matter of technology and products,” BYD founder Wang Chuanfu said in Mandarin on the launch event on Monday, in keeping with CNBC’s translation.
He claimed the technology was a “breakthrough” that “leads and surpasses the foreign technological level.”
The update comes ahead of the Shanghai Motor Show, which is ready to start next week, where a variety of Chinese automobile corporations are expected to make product and model announcements.
In line with BYD, a part of the technology system uses the identical “lidar” sensors utilized in assisted driving. Lidar, short for “light sensing and ranging,” uses lasers to create detailed maps of the encompassing area.
The automaker said in a press release that its new “DiSus” system “provides the idea for the longer term development of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).”
The corporate has taken a comparatively cautious approach to autonomous driving technology.
Asked about “smart driving” during a call with investors in late March, BYD executives said autonomous driving still faces the challenge of determining liability within the event of an accident. Still, management says advanced driving-assist technology has the potential to enhance overall safety. That is in keeping with a report from last month, which was accessed via the Wind Information database.
All the industry is working to balance ambitious driver assistance options with measured safety protocols. EV leader Tesla recalled greater than 360,000 cars in February due to city street driving assistance software it said could cause accidents.
This city driving assistance software will not be available for Tesla drivers in China.
BYD
It wasn’t immediately clear how Tesla’s depreciation capabilities in comparison with BYD, but other automobile corporations in China are exploring similar technology.
In September, Nio’s investment fund, Nio Capital, ran a $39 million funding round into Boston-based company ClearMotion, which develops energetic suspension software.
Many details still unknown
BYD’s Wang didn’t comment on how much the corporate’s new DiSus system will cost or when it is going to develop into widely available.
Two of the compatible automobile models – the upcoming Yangwang U8 SUV and the Denza N7 SUV – are usually not yet available for shipment. Automotive giant Daimler has a small stake in BYD’s Denza brand.
BYD said a few of its existing Han, Tang, and Denza models are set to receive the new technology via an over-the-air update.
The new system is available in three versions – ‘damping’, ‘air’ and ‘hydraulic’ – that are designed to be individually integrated with certain BYD models.
In the primary quarter, BYD said it sold 264,647 all-electric passenger cars, greater than 80% greater than a 12 months ago. Sales of hybrid passenger cars doubled in comparison with last 12 months to 283,270 in the primary quarter.
Tesla, for its part, said it delivered greater than 422,000 cars worldwide in the primary quarter, not broken down by region. China typically accounts for well over 20% of Tesla’s revenue.