BYD Introduces Free ADAS on All Car Models Starting from $9,500

In a game-changing move, BYD one of Tesla’s main EV competitors announced in mid-February the launch of its proprietary ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) called “God’s Eye”, across all its models. Unlike Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system  , which costs users $99 per month (or a one-off upfront fee of $8,000), BYD is offering God’s Eye completely free of charge. While God’s Eye’s autonomous level is still not very high, this decision still significantly lowers the barrier for consumers to experience advanced driver assistance, even on entry-level models priced as low as CNY 69.8K ($9.5K).

BYD developed God’s Eye in collaboration with Horizon (software) and Hesai (LiDAR), while also integrating DeepSeek technology to enhance its capabilities. The system supports key ADAS features such as automatic highway ramp entry and exit, cruise driving, lane keeping, autonomous lane changes, and obstacle avoidance. Based on these functionalities, ‘God’s Eye’ is estimated to fall between ADAS Level 2 and Level 3.

Additionally, the system includes autonomous emergency braking, self-parking upon exit, and remote parking. It is offered in three tiers, with Level C being the entry-level version available on BYD’s most affordable models. Despite being the base version, Level C still comes equipped with 12 cameras, 5 millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic radars, a significant hardware package for a budget-friendly car.

Over the past year, BYD has aggressively slashed prices to strengthen its dominance in the Chinese market. Now, by offering free ADAS, the company is escalating the price war indirectly. Meanwhile, Tesla’s FSD is still awaiting regulatory approval in China, which could intensify competition for Tesla in 2025 as BYD continues to gain market share.