BYD surged to a record price upon unveiling advanced driver-assistance technology powered by DeepSeek’s AI.

BYD Share Price Soars with New Focus on Driver Assistance

Chinese electric vehicle heavyweight BYD saw its Hong Kong-listed shares hit an all-time high on Tuesday after announcing it would fully commit to driver-assistance technology. The stock surged over 4% to 345 Hong Kong dollars ($44.24), following a 21% rally the previous week in anticipation of BYD’s February 10 showcase. Historically cautious about autonomous driving due to liability issues, the company has shifted its stance, with founder and chairman Wang Chuanfu likening advanced driver-assistance features to seatbelts and airbags in terms of essential safety.

“DiPilot” and DeepSeek AI: Elevating Affordability and Safety

At a China-focused event livestreamed Monday, BYD introduced “DiPilot,” a new assisted-driving system that will be rolled out across more than 20 models—including a budget-friendly car priced at 69,800 yuan ($9,555). According to Nomura analysts, BYD is likely the first automaker in China to provide such sophisticated driver assistance in a vehicle costing less than 70,000 yuan, underscoring its commitment to bringing high-tech safety features to mass-market buyers. A key element of this upgrade is BYD’s partnership with homegrown AI specialist DeepSeek, whose technology will power the most advanced version of DiPilot. Sino Auto Insights founder Tu Le noted that this alliance helps BYD catch up to, and potentially surpass, other Chinese automakers in implementing intelligent driving features.

Strategy Shift and Market Implications

BYD’s new offerings reflect a strategic transition from last year’s pricing battles to a more feature-focused approach leading into 2025. While company executives once cited difficulties in assigning liability for autonomous vehicles, they now emphasize the potential of smart driving to reduce accidents, thanks to the combination of AI, big data, and sensor-based monitoring. Analysts see this move as positioning BYD at the forefront of China’s competitive electric car market, where advanced driver-assistance is increasingly seen as a differentiator. Although BYD is aggressively expanding overseas, the company has not yet detailed when these new features will be available globally.