BYD and DJI: The drone on the car roof

Mobility concept of the future? BYD and DJI: The drone on the car roof

2025-03-24 From Henrik Bork | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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A press of a button is all it takes, and a drone is deployed on the car roof. It takes off to follow the car and film from the air. What BYD has just unveiled together with drone manufacturer DJI has "serious science fiction vibes," even comment the auto media in China, who are used to quite a bit by now.

More attractive for potential buyers: BYD collaborates with drone manufacturer DJI and integrates a drone system into its vehicles for the first time.(Image: BYD) — More attractive for potential buyers: BYD collaborates with drone manufacturer DJI and integrates a drone system into its vehicles for the first time.
(Image: BYD)

The system called "Lingyuan," which BYD introduced together with DJI, costs 16,000 yuan, equivalent to about 2,000 euros (2.167,60 USD). It is supposed to bring its customers "more fun while driving," said BYD CEO Wang Chuanfu at the launch event for the drones integrated into the car in Shenzhen on March 3rd. Consumers today want more than a means of transport; rather, they demand a "mobile space for mobility, entertainment, and social interaction," according to the chairman of China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer.

Introduction is taking place gradually

They did not want to build "just a toy for a small group of enthusiasts," stated Luo Zhenhua, CEO of DJI. The drones are to be gradually made available for all BYD's electric and hybrid cars, according to Wang Chuanfu. First, the drone system, which consists of the launch pad on the roof, a drone, and associated apps, will be available for the BYD brands Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, and Fangchengbao. For the luxury electric car Yangwang, there is a slightly modifiable version with an interchangeable battery. Later, all BYD brands can be purchased with Lingyuan on the roof.

The standard version of the drone launchpad can be deployed at a driving speed of up to 25 km/h (approx. 15,5 mph). The drone can then follow the car at a maximum speed of 54 km/h (approx. 33,6 mph) and film the scene from the air. At the launch, a "DJI Air 3S" type drone was seen.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence and video editing apps are intended to make it easy for users to create professionally-looking motion pictures of their excursions. The system is a world first—the first mass-produced cars with integrated drones.

The BYD cars of the "Bao 8" series by the brand Fangchengbao, shown at the product launch, cost between 395,000 and 432,800 yuan, which is about 50,100 to 54,900 euros each (approx. 54.298 to 59.500 USD). The installation of the drone system is optional.

New variant

The launchpad on the car roof looks like a square box with rounded corners, has a diameter of 29 square centimeters (approx. 11 sq inches), and a height of 215 millimeters (approx. 8,4 inches). This is much slimmer than a previous version with which BYD had experimented for its luxury brand Yangwang.

When the driver presses a button in the cockpit, two doors of the launchpad on the car roof open and deploy the drone. The drone can automatically return to the vehicle from a distance of two kilometers and is then recharged from 20 to 80 percent in 30 minutes.

Outperform the competition

Last year, BYD sold 4.27 million vehicles, as many electric cars and hybrids as no other company, but like all other car manufacturers in China, it is fighting a sharp price war for customers and profits. The drone is intended to help make the vehicles more attractive and thus stand out from the competition.

Just over a month ago, BYD launched a driver assistance system called "God's Eye," which is expected to be included free of charge in all of its models in the future. Even then, financial analysts had predicted a strong rise in BYD's stock price.

The "cars with drones" are likely to further cement the success of the Chinese market leader. The bank JP Morgan Chase had already predicted before this latest surprise that BYD could sell six and a half million cars per year in 2026. (se)

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