BYD will pay for crashes on its FSD competitor, something Tesla never has
9 hours ago
- #liability shift
- #BYD vs Tesla
- #autonomous driving
- BYD will cover all direct economic losses for at-fault accidents occurring while its God's Eye urban driving system is active, with no payout cap, no need for separate insurance, and no premium increase after claims.
- The policy applies for one year from delivery, covers God's Eye A and B systems, and is available to existing owners via over-the-air updates, not restricted to the first owner.
- BYD's move contrasts with Tesla's Full Self-Driving, where drivers bear 100% liability, highlighting a shift in industry liability models from human to manufacturer responsibility.
- BYD bundles the liability guarantee with a cheaper system (about $1,770) compared to Tesla's equivalent ($9,400 in China), offering full coverage at roughly one-fifth the cost.
- The guarantee is currently China-only, requires compliant use, and is seen as both a marketing strategy to boost feature usage and a confidence play to collect driving data.
- BYD's approach underscores the legal distinction between Level 2 and higher autonomy levels, where manufacturer liability is essential if the system makes driving decisions.