BYD's Yangwang U9 autonomously conquers racetrack, apparently

The electric vehicle world is witnessing rapid advancements in autonomous driving technology, and BYD has shot up to the very front of the progress. The company has just unveiled its latest ADAS boldly called the "God's Eye." The specs on paper are impressive, and the idea that autonomous driving is coming even to the cheapest EVs is simply huge.

The Chinese automaker decided to showcase the capabilities of its new ADAS and released a video showing the Yangwang U9 supercar completing a full lap at the Hunan Zhuzhou International Circuit without a driver. On the face of it - a brave, bold move. But after watching the short video, we had more questions than answers. See for yourself:

The video demonstrates the U9 navigating the challenging racetrack both during daylight and even at night. BYD claims this nighttime demonstration proves the robustness of the "God's Eye A" system, the most advanced version of its ADAS suite.

Although the company claims there was no driver in the U9, some of the stunts were performed deliberately to avoid showing the car's interior. The night driving video has been sped up and made to look as if the U9 was driving at full speed. The same goes for the day driving - many sections appear to be sped up and we don't actually get to see one uninterrupted lap.

Did the U9 complete the lap around the circuit? Sure. But it is highly unlikely it has done it fast. The night escapade is even more questionable, and the donuts? You can bet your lunch money that BYD took creative liberties with this marketing video. Because that's all it is - a marketing video designed to show us possibilities.

BYD officially unveiled "God's Eye," its answer to Tesla's FSD, on February 10 in China. The system comes in three tiers, each offering varying levels of sophistication. "God's Eye C" (DiPilot 100) is the entry-level option, while "God's Eye B" (DiPilot 300) offers more capabilities. At the top of the line is "God's Eye A" (DiPilot 600), the system powering the Yangwang U9's autonomous track run.

A key differentiator for BYD is its commitment to democratizing smart driving technology. The company announced that its entire vehicle lineup, from the affordable BYD Seagull hatchback (priced around $9,500) to its high-performance models, will feature some level of "God's Eye" ADAS.

Via