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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.”

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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