Tesla’s main competitor in the Far East is launching its own assisted-driver system.

Chinese EV maker BYD unveiled God’s Eye on Monday, its own Tesla-like driver-assistance program. The company said the new technology, which mirrors Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode, will be installed in even its cheapest models. 

During a Monday livestream, BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu said God’s Eye will offer consumers access to groundbreaking software. 

“We’re entering an era where autonomous driving is for everyone,” he said.

The company didn’t confirm if users will need to pay a subscription fee to use God’s Eye. BYD did say that the technology will use China’s DeepSeek AI model while driving. 

The God’s Eye announcement signals an intensification in the battle for electric vehicle dominance in Asia and introduces a new player in the autonomous driving arms race. BYD is Tesla’s largest competitor in China and recently overtook the American EV manufacturer in sales. 

BYD has numerous advantages over Tesla in the region, including its relatively lower prices and not needing to jump over as many regulatory hurdles. For years Tesla has been seeking government approval to let Chinese customers use its FSD software, but regulators say they’re concerned over data security. 

God’s Eye also comes as Tesla and BYD race to launch their own robotaxi service, featuring full-autonomous vehicles. BYD announced last year that it would partner with rideshare company Uber to develop a robotaxi fleet with plans to launch in China. 

Late last year, Tesla announced its intention to start a robotaxi initiative, with plans to manufacture vehicles made for autonomous driving. The company also has plans to let customers rent out their vehicles to be used as Tesla robotaxis.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.