BYD (比亚迪) to offer Tianshen Eye B lidar option across entire lineup for 12,000 yuan

Announcement and details

It has been reported that BYD (比亚迪) will make its Tianshen Eye B driver‑assist laser (lidar) version available as an optional fitment across its entire model range, with an optional price of 12,000 yuan (roughly $1,700). The comment came from BYD president Wang Chuanfu at the automaker’s “Dare to Be” intelligentization strategy launch in Shenzhen, where he said city‑pilot capability is “an important safety configuration” and should not be tied to car price.

Wang reportedly emphasized that whether chosen as an option or offered as standard, the Tianshen Eye B’s hardware and software specifications will be identical across vehicles — “full‑power” in his words — so owners get the same experience regardless of trim.

Strategic context

The move signals BYD’s push to democratize higher‑end perception hardware as automakers race to commercialize advanced driver assistance and urban pilot features. Wang also outlined three strategic goals for BYD’s next phase of smartification — zero traffic accidents, “super driver,” and “super secretary” — arguing that advances in sensors, AI algorithms and data will make those ambitions achievable.

Why does this matter beyond China’s rapidly growing EV market? Because as Western tech restrictions and trade frictions persist, Chinese automakers are accelerating in‑house development of sensors and software stacks to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Will competitors follow BYD in unbundling safety tech from premium price tiers? Expect that question to shape the next phase of competition in both domestic and export markets.