(Yicai) March 3 -- Chinese carmaker BYD and drone producer DJI have launched an intelligent in-car drone system designed to provide drivers with real-time, vertical perspectives on their travel movements. 

The new system, called Lingyuan, will be offered in BYD’s main brands Dynasty, Ocean, and Fang Cheng Bao, making it the first such system to be used in mass-produced vehicles globally, Shenzhen-based BYD said at yesterday’s launch event.

It also has a retractable landing pad, enabling automated take-off and landing, as well as easy storage. There will be a fast-charging version priced at CNY16,000 (USD2,195) and a replaceable battery version, whose cost has not yet been announced.

The first model equipped with Lingyuan, the Fang Cheng Bao 8, a hybrid smart sport utility vehicle, debuted at the launch event, with a price range of CNY395,800 to CNY423,800 (USD54,290 to USD58,130).

Lingyuan supports intelligent tracking and filming, allowing drivers to record their travel experiences and share the content on social media via the vehicle's onboard computer, said BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu.

In-car drones have been prohibitively expensive, but to make them more affordable, BYD has invested heavily to industrialize and scale development, bringing this niche feature into the mainstream, Wang noted.

The collaboration not only enhances the functionality of new energy vehicles, but also expands the potential uses of drones, said DJI President Luo Zhenhua. Shenzhen-based DJI will continue to work with BYD to explore new possibilities for smart technology in electric vehicles, he added.

BYD, which has led global NEV sales for three consecutive years, is doubling down on smart tech investment and has been ploughing funds into the development of its autonomous driving system, called God’s Eye.

On Feb. 10, the company announced plans to equip all of its models with the system, including entry-level vehicles priced under CNY100,000 (USD13,720), significantly lowering the barrier to the uptake of smart driving.

Editor: Tom Litting