BYD’s Dream Day event on January 16, 2024, marked a milestone as the Chinese automaker unveiled its new strategy for the intelligent development of electric vehicles—dubbed the “whole vehicle intelligence.” This tech focus shows that the NEV maker is aiming to rival Huawei’s tech focused trajectory.
The event showcased several new technologies, including the panoramic in-car satellite communication system on the upcoming U8, a vehicle-mounted drone system, and the “Easy Four-way Parking” technology. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu disclosed plans for the imminent release of the U8 SUV as well as the U9 supercar Wang touts as state-of-the-art.
The event, named “Dream Day,” was explained by Wang as a reflection of BYD’s identity as a company born from dreams, emphasizing the continuous process of dreaming, pursuing, and realizing dreams. The English acronym for BYD, “Build Your Dreams,” aligns with the company’s visionary approach.
Mr. Wang highlighted that in the current landscape where many automakers are eager to collaborate with Huawei for intelligent technology, BYD took a different path by firmly committing to independent research and development. This was emphasized during Dream Day when he introduced BYD’s “Engineer Dream Team,” a group of ten engineers representing over 90,000 engineers within the company.
Additionally, in the event BYD introduced the Xuanji AI Model, touted as the industry’s first “dual-loop multimodal AI system.” While Dream Day highlighted BYD’s direction in intelligent vehicle development, specific application functionalities and scenarios were not detailed. The focus on in-house research and vertical integration underscores BYD’s commitment to its Xuanji vision.
The flagship U8 was not only showcased for its high-end features but also demonstrated new technologies like “Easy Four-way Parking,” enabling advanced maneuvers in tight spaces. The vehicle can rotate around its inner front or rear wheels, facilitating parking in narrow conditions. Moreover, the U8 showcased an integrated drone system developed in collaboration with DJI. The vehicle’s drone is stored within a dedicated compartment and can be automatically recharged using the car’s power supply. Another feature unveiled was the in-car satellite communication system, ensuring connectivity even in remote or outdoor areas.
The U9 sports car, which recently applied for a sales license in China and is set to enter the market soon. It features a four-motor 4WD power train and 475km of range.
BYD’s Dream Day event comes on the heels of a strong sales performance year for the company. Public data revealed that BYD achieved a remarkable sales figure of 3.02 million new energy vehicles in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 62.3%. The company not only met but exceeded its annual sales target of 3 million vehicles, cementing its position as the leader in sales. The export sales for BYD in 2023 reached 242,800 vehicles, reflecting a staggering growth of 334.2%.
