BYD’s ‘God’s Eye’ Flaws Expose Risk of Rush Into High-Tech Cars

When Chinese entrepreneur Zhou forked over 1.1 million-yuan ($160,000) in late 2024 for BYD Co.’s crown jewel — the 3.5-ton Yangwang U8 SUV — he bought what he thought was the pinnacle of Chinese engineering. Among the draws: a sophisticated system that would spot dangers on the road and practically let the car drive itself.

The feature, branded as God’s Eye in 2025, appears to fall short on its celestial promise. During a clear afternoon in southwestern China, the 38-year-old was cruising when the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 93 kilometers per hour (58 mph), well above the 60 kph speed limit, and veered onto a roadside median. On another occasion, he said the U8 abruptly jerked into an adjacent lane by performing a “ghost” steering maneuver, nearly colliding with oncoming traffic.