BYD Says It Will Pay If Its Driver-Assist System Causes A Crash

Advanced Driving

It seems that no matter how well-researched, tested, and developed autonomous driving technology is, people remain cautious about it. Automotive safety regulators have always been on the fence about this particular aspect of modern automotive technology, highlighting the grey area between trusting the car's capabilities 100% and determining who is liable if an accident occurs.

Most will argue that the carmaker is liable, or even the driver in some cases, but we've all seen that these things are usually settled in court after a lengthy process. Chinese brand BYD is about to change things up with a recent declaration.

Taking Responsibility

Car News China reports that BYD recently announced a new policy offering a double guarantee for its advanced driving systems. This new policy is the first by any major automaker to effectively remove liability from the customer or driver. It also shows just how confident they are in their autonomous driving systems.

Under this new policy, the carmaker is offering comprehensive coverage for its proprietary God's Eye technology. Specifically, new owners will get this new coverage from the moment of purchase, while existing customers are set to get the coverage after updating to God's Eye version 5.0, all of which is applicable to the home market of China for now.

Basically, it means BYD pays for and covers any damages incurred while God's Eye is engaged; this coverage is valid for one year.

Betting Big on Autonomy

BYD does say that while it will completely cover any damage to the vehicle, third parties, or even injuries, the systems must have been in use in accordance with proper regulations and traffic rules. The God's Eye driving package costs around $1,800 (converted) and is a one-time payment; other automakers require new insurance purchases after the fact.

BYD is like Tesla in the sense that it's putting its money where its mouth is in terms of autonomous driving features. I've been fortunate enough to have visited BYD's HQ in China, where we were briefed on the extent and commitment BYD is making in God's Eye. BYD is pledging $148 million in research and development of advanced driving systems in the coming years.

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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 7:05 PM.