BYD’s God’s Eye flaws expose risk of rush into high-tech cars
The company has ramped up sales to outpace peers but the performance of the world’s top-selling EV maker in cutting-edge driving remains a work in progress.
The BYD Yangwang U8 sport-utility vehicle has been pitched as the pinnacle of Chinese engineering. Bloomberg
Bloomberg News
When Chinese entrepreneur Zhou forked over 1.1 million yuan ($230,000) in late 2024 for BYD crown jewel – the 3.5-tonne Yangwang U8 SUV – he bought what he thought was the pinnacle of Chinese engineering. Among the draws: a sophisticated system that would spot dangers on the road and practically let the car drive itself.
The feature, branded God’s Eye in 2025, appears to fall short on its celestial promise. During a clear afternoon in south-western China, the 38-year-old was cruising when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 93km/h, well above the 60km/h speed limit, and veered onto a roadside median.
