BYD announced plans Tuesday to invest ¥100 billion ($14 billion) in its planned smart car technology development, Automotive News China reports, citing the Chinese electric automaker’s founder and Chief Executive.
Unfortunately, Founder and CEO Wang Chuanfu omitted to share the investment’s exact timeline and specifics.
XUANJI Architecture
BYD reportedly introduced the new XUANJI Architecture under its Integrated Vehicle Intelligence strategy during the recent Dream Day 2024 at its global headquarters in Shenzhen.
According to the press release, the XUANJI Architecture will serve as the “brain and neural network” of its new smart electric vehicle models. Impressively, it offers the following features:
- central brain
- cloud-based AI
- car-based AI
- vehicle networking
- 5G network
- satellite network
- sensing chain
- control chain
- data chain
- mechanical chain
It will also come with the XUANJI AI large model, which is a pioneering multimodal vehicular artificial intelligence. This model apparently contains the industry’s largest data foundation to support continuous adaptation.
“Integrated Vehicle Intelligence is set to steer the future direction of vehicular intelligence, and to accelerate the transformation of the automotive industry.”
Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD
Navigation on Autopilot
BYD also disclosed plans to launch an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) called “Navigate on Autopilot,” during the special event.
This system will reportedly enable the vehicle to drive autonomously without the driver’s hands on the wheel and feet on the pedal in certain circumstances.
However, the system will require drivers to bring their hands back to the steering wheels every 15 seconds for safety reasons.
It will reportedly become available to cars priced over ¥300,000 or as an upgrade for ¥200,000+.
The move is part of the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant’s efforts to advance its smart energy vehicles and lead in smart vehicle design. Notably, BYD currently leads in China’s L2-level intelligent driving deployment. It is also the first-ever automaker to secure the L3-level test license in the world’s largest auto market.
Going forward, BYD aims to continuously eliminate the barrier to Intelligent Driving by launching advanced technologies for affordable costs to accelerate its prevalence in the global automotive industry.