BYD Bets on Autonomy, Hyundai Goes Solid-State, Watching Youtube On TV

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Happy hump day, auto industry! Today, we’re covering how BYD is integrating premium autonomous driving tech into its entire lineup of cars. Plus Hyundai is getting in on solid-state EV batteries and Youtube is more popular on TVs than on phones.

Show Notes with links:

• Chinese automaker BYD is going all-in on autonomous driving as it ramps up its challenge to Tesla’s EV dominance. 
  • BYD announced that its "God's Eye" self-driving tech, featuring autonomous overtaking and remote parking, will be standard across all models.
  • The ultra-affordable BYD Seagull, priced at just over $9,500, will also receive high-level autonomous features.
  • The automaker’s stock hit an all-time high following the announcement, climbing 4% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
  • From the Daily Pushback Email team: “The price gap is staggering. BYD’s smart-equipped Seagull? $9,555. Tesla’s cheapest China-made model? $32,000. Ford’s entry-level Mustang Mach-E? $39,995”
  • “Affordability and reliability move units—and Chinese EVs are delivering both at a pace that should make U.S. automakers nervous. Two out of three new cars sold in China this year will have some level of self-driving tech, according to industry estimates.”

• Hyundai is making a major move in the EV battery race with its upcoming all-solid-state battery pilot line. The advanced tech, set to debut in March, could significantly boost range, charging speeds, and energy density, positioning Hyundai as a leader in the evolving EV landscape.
  • The company is investing over $9 billion in EV battery development over the next decade, including LFP, NCM, and all-solid-state options.
  • Hyundai aims to mass-produce all-solid-state batteries by 2030, with prototype EVs featuring the technology expected this year.
  • General Motors and other industry leaders are expected to attend the opening ceremony, signaling growing partnerships.
  • Other automakers are racing to develop solid-state batteries, with Honda revealing a solid-state pilot line of EVs last November, and Toyota aiming for commercialization by 2027-2028.
• YouTube is officially more popular on TVs than on phones, with over 1 billion hours of content streamed daily on television screens. As YouTube solidifies its dominance in streaming, new features continue to blur the line between traditional TV and digital video.
  • YouTube remains the most-watched streaming service in the U.S. for the second year, according to Nielsen.
  • Platform updates include an improved TV layout, interactive features, and the ability to watch Shorts and live streams on TV.
  • YouTube TV has surpassed 8 million subscribers, while YouTube Premium and Music have exceeded 100 million (including trials).
  • CEO Neal Mohan emphasized YouTube’s role in reshaping television: “The ‘new’ television doesn’t look like the ‘old’ television.”

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