Byd exceeds one million cars with semi-autonomous driving delivered: Tesla and distancing others
The BYD Atto 3, 100 % electric SUV, presented at the Paris automobile show in October 2022. A model now available in France and representative of the rise of the Chinese manufacturer. © Vanderwolf Images
Byd did not wait a decade to democratize assisted conduct. In less than six months, the Chinese giant has delivered more than a million vehicles with advanced intelligent functions. What he calls “Smart Driving Edition” is not a marketing argument: it is a deep overhaul of the driving experience. And if France is not yet on the list, it could well be the next one.
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Semi-autonomous driving: Byd seduces 1 million drivers
Since February 2025, byd has been offering, in its Chinese range, Smart Driving Edition stamped models, with a software brain called God’s Eye. The key, semi-autonomous driving on three levels (A, B, C), depending on the on-board sensors: Lidar, radars or cameras.
Level A, integrated into the luxury SUV Yangwang U8, goes up to a level 3 driving. At the bottom of the ladder? Little Seagull, sold for less than € 10,000, is also entitled to it. It is this strategy – to bring down the on -board intelligence in all the ranges – which explains the explosion of sales.
The byd Dolphin during our grip: a well-equipped electric from € 24,990, which embodies the manufacturer’s ambition to democratize semi-autonomous driving in France. © Numériques
In France, Byd is gradually taking place. A dozen concessions were already active at the end of 2024; They are more than 50 today. L’Atto 3, which we had taken in handthere Dolphin, also tested or the Seal are available for sale – and at rates often lower than their European or American competitors. Seagull, a Chinese market star, could follow.
But for the time being, no model sold in France yet offers the God’s Eye system. And this is not a question of technological delay: these are regulations. The approval of the level 3 of autonomous driving remains supervised, in particular by the European regulation 2019/2144. Once the green light is obtained, Byd could then offer OTA software updates already deployed in China.
In parallel, Byd is preparing a network of ultra-fast terminals in Europe : up to 400 km recharged in 5 minutes. Coupled with intelligent driving, this software + infrastructure duo could very quickly redraw the landscape of the electric car in France.
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