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Chinese automakers are accelerating the spread of lidar and upgradeable in‑car hardware into mainstream electric vehicles. BYD’s 2026 Seagull, an A00‑class EV priced under ¥100,000, is being offered with optional roof‑mounted lidar as part of higher‑tier DiPilot ADAS, marking lidar’s trickle‑down to entry‑level models. BYD also launched a paid screen upgrade program to retrofit larger infotainment displays across several models, standardizing hardware enhancements and boosting longevity. Meanwhile, Lynk & Co’s newly filed Lynk 20 BEV similarly includes a roof lidar sensor, underscoring an industry trend: affordable BEVs are increasingly adopting advanced sensing and modular upgrade strategies once reserved for premium segments.
BYD will launch the 2026 Han Shi 06 DM-i on May 26, with dealer display cars already arriving nationwide. The updated plug-in hybrid boosts pure-electric range—CLTC figures could exceed 300 km—and combined range with full fuel and charge may top 1,800 km, targeting both city and long-distance use. It adds lidar-based driver assistance (optional DiPilot 300 “Tianshen Eye B”) supporting city and high-speed navigation assist, rerouting and yielding behaviors to expand high-level ADAS scenarios. Visual and comfort upgrades include new exterior/interior colors, seat massage, front passenger leg rest, and in-cabin fragrance, positioning the model as a more premium, tech-forward offering in BYD’s lineup.
China’s BYD has launched the 2026 Seagull (海鸥) A00‑class electric car priced from ¥69,900 to ¥97,900, marketed as the first A00 model to support optional lidar. The Seagull offers 305 km and 405 km ranges with 30.08 kWh or 38.88 kWh batteries, a 55 kW motor, MacPherson front and torsion‑beam rear suspension, and safety features including dual front airbags and panoramic camera. Higher trims include BYD’s DiPilot ADAS packs: standard ‘Thousand‑Mile Eye’ and ‘Sentinel’ plus DiPilot 100; buyers can option the lidar‑enabled DiPilot 300 (“Tianshen Eye B”) on two high‑range trims. The move signals wider trickle‑down of advanced driver‑assist hardware into entry‑level EVs.
BYD has launched an official in-vehicle display upgrade service allowing owners of select Dynasty and Ocean series models to swap smaller infotainment screens for larger ones: 10.1"→12.8" for Yuan UP at ¥1,320 and 12.8"→15.6" for other supported models at ¥1,999. Eligible cars include various Qin L, Song L, Song PLUS, Seal (Haibao) variants, and the Seagull (Haishi) 05. Purchases are available via the BYD app or mini program, and upgraded screens come with a one-year or 20,000 km warranty (whichever comes first). The move standardizes hardware upgrades, potentially extending vehicle lifecycle and improving user experience across BYD’s model lines.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published a new vehicle filing showing Lynk & Co's Lynk 20 BEV has completed certification. The sedan, likely an upgrade of the Z20, features split headlights, a striking yellow paint option and a roof-mounted lidar sensor. Its dimensions are 4,495mm long, 1,845mm wide, 1,573mm tall with a 2,755mm wheelbase. Powertrain is a single electric motor rated at 245 kW, with a lithium iron phosphate battery and top speed of 201 km/h. The Lynk 20 positions itself close to the current Z20 range (51.2–61.47 kWh batteries, 430–530 km CLTC), signaling advanced driver-assistance hardware and continued focus on competitive BEV specs.