Chinese electric vehicle and battery maker BYD, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of electric vehicles, has seen its shares rise sharply on the Hong Kong stock exchange after announcing it will integrate advanced driver assistance technology developed by startup DeepSeek AI.
The move marks a shift in the company’s strategy, which has previously taken a more cautious approach to autonomous driving.
The company had surged by around 21% in the previous week, fueled by expectations for the February 10 event.
Yesterday, BYD shares rose by more than 4% to an all-time high of HK$345 (about US$44.24).
Today, February 12, 2025, the shares hit a new all-time high of HK$354.20. These gains reflect investor confidence in BYD’s technological innovations and their strategic impact on the global market.
Photo source: google finance
Launch of the DiPilot system and the “Eye of God”
One of the most anticipated moments of the BYD event was the launch of the DiPilot driver assistance system, developed in collaboration with DeepSeek AI.
This system will be available on the entire range of BYD vehicles, including affordable models, with prices starting at around 69,800 yuan (around 9,555 US dollars), making BYD the first Chinese automaker to offer such advanced driver assistance features on affordable vehicles.
Called the “Eye of God” (or “God’s Eye”), this innovative system will control the existing sensors in BYD vehicles to provide a much improved level of safety and performance.
The “Eye of God” will include a combination of cameras, LiDAR sensors, radars and advanced data processing technology, which will allow the vehicle to perform autonomous driving functions without compromising safety or performance.
To develop this system, BYD conducted tests over 72 million kilometers, involving approximately 5,000 engineers, out of a total of 100,000 company employees. They used the largest cloud database in China, which belongs to BYD, to optimize the system’s performance.
How is the “Eye of God” system structured?
The “Eye of God” system will be available in 3 variants, each with different characteristics, depending on the vehicle model.
The most affordable of these, called the “God’s Eye C”, will include three cameras mounted behind the windshield and will be equipped with a DiPilot 100 system, with a computing power of 100 TOPS (Tera Operations per Second). It will also include 9 other secondary cameras (5 panoramic and 4 surround), 5 mm blind-spot radars, a front radar with an action of 300 meters and 12 ultrasonic sensors, for an accuracy of 1 cm in parking the vehicle.
The “God’s Eye B”, which is the next level of the system, will include an additional LiDAR sensor, this system being intended for premium vehicles, such as the Denza and Fang Cheng Bao models, which will benefit from a DiPilot 300 system, with a power of 300 TOPS.
The most advanced level, “God’s Eye A”, will include three LiDARs and will be equipped with a DiPilot 600 system, with a power of 600 TOPS, and is intended exclusively for luxury models of Yngwang, which is the premium brand of BYD Group.
BYD’s sales and performance
In terms of financial performance, BYD has recorded a considerable increase in sales, exceeding 1.5 million units sold in 2024, which represents an increase of about 50% compared to the previous year. Its market share in China has reached 30%, thus consolidating its leading position in the electric vehicle market.
Compared to European automakers such as Volkswagen or Renault, BYD stands out for its cost efficiency and speed of implementation of technological innovations.
For example, while Volkswagen had difficulties in implementing autonomous driving technologies, BYD has managed to integrate these advanced functionalities in a much more efficient and cost-effective way.
Who is DeepSeek AI competing with in the automotive industry?
In terms of DeepSeek AI technology, the Chinese startup competes with industry giants such as Waymo (Google), Tesla Autopilot and Mobileye (Intel). Unlike Waymo which focuses on developing fully autonomous vehicles, DeepSeek AI is focusing on driver assistance solutions that can be quickly and efficiently integrated into production vehicles. Compared to Tesla Autopilot, DeepSeek AI offers a more affordable alternative without compromising on vehicle safety and performance.
The global market impact of the two Chinese companies :
In terms of market capitalization, BYD recently surpassed $150 billion, reflecting increased investor interest in the company’s development. On the other hand, DeepSeek AI, although a relatively new startup, is currently valued at approximately $5 billion due to its potential to revolutionize the automotive industry with its advanced artificial intelligence solutions.
The integration of DeepSeek AI technology into BYD vehicles is not only an important step in the development of electric vehicle autonomy, but also a strategic move that will help the company strengthen its position in the global market.
BYD’s strategy to integrate DeepSeek AI technology into its vehicles not only improves the company’s competitiveness, but also represents a significant step towards the future of autonomous mobility.
The company’s stock price growth, combined with technological advances and solid financial performance, underscores the impact of this partnership on the automotive industry.
This partnership between BYD and DeepSeeK AI can bring new standards to the automotive industry in 2025 and in the years to come.
