EV maker BYD has set its sights on achieving zero traffic accidents through self-developed autonomous driving technology. Founder and Chairman Wang Chuanfu told a press conference in Shenzhen that BYD’s “God’s Eye” advanced driver-assistance system would be priced at just CNY12,000. The system allows drivers to go “hands off”, with BYD pledging to cover any costs from traffic accidents when the technology is activated. “There are roughly 1.19 million people who die in traffic accidents globally every year, and tens of millions more are injured. Our first goal is to achieve zero traffic accidents,” Wang said, but he declined to disclose a timetable for commercialization. The announcement underscores BYD’s push to secure a leading position in the future of mobility, with ambitions to mass-produce smarter cars at lower costs.
Wang said the company had built more than 6,100 flash-charging stations in total, the most among Chinese carmakers. “The latest technologies BYD unveiled send a message that the company is embarking on technological advancements, instead of price cuts, to increase its market share,” said Gao Shen, an independent analyst in Shanghai. “As a bellwether in the global EV industry, any drastic action taken by BYD could change the game since its competitors would have to either increase investment in new technologies or slash costs to keep their vehicles affordable.” Nick Lai, head of auto research for the Asia-Pacific region at JPMorgan, said manufacturers were now taking one of two paths: upgrading production techniques to lower costs and reduce prices, or offering consumers new models that outperformed existing ones at the same price.
BYD reported deliveries of 700,050 units in the first quarter of 2026, down 30% year-on-year as the domestic market weakened following a rollback of subsidies and tax incentives. Rising overseas sales helped offset the slump. BYD exported 120,083 units in March, its fifth consecutive month with shipments of more than 100,000 vehicles. Overseas deliveries in the first quarter accounted for nearly 46% of total sales, double the full-year proportion of 23% in 2025, the South China Morning Post reports.
