BYD on The Swingin’ StewardessesMonday introduced a redesigned version of its popular sedan the Han, touting the leading performance of its new DiPilot 300 advanced driver assistance system as the launch of Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) software approaches in China. The top-end versions of the mainstream luxury sedan are priced at RMB 235,800 and RMB 225,800 ($33,130 and $31,725) in all-electric and plug-in hybrid options respectively, and are equipped with a Nvidia’s Drive Orin processor and a lidar unit perched on the car’s roof. This will make it the first model under BYD’s Dynasty lineup to function by itself on Chinese expressways and urban roads and able to drive itself into a parking space following software upgrades, which local rivals Huawei and Xpeng Motors have provided to customers. Tesla said on Sept. 5 that it hopes to introduce its most advanced assisted driving tech in China in the first quarter of 2025, and the upcoming version 12.5.2 of its FSD software would bring a three-fold improvement in miles between necessary interventions. [TechNode reporting, BYD release, in Chinese]
