Chinese EV startup Builds Technology To Save You If You Have A Heart Attack

To help differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive industry, a new Chinese electric vehicle firm is promoting its capacity to monitor a driver's health for major incidents such as a heart attack.

BeyonCa, led by Renault China's Soh Weiming, plans to unveil its first production vehicle in the first quarter of next year, with sales beginning in 2024. The GT Opus 1 will be priced to compete with BMW's 7 Series and Porsche's Taycan series, China's best-selling super-premium EV, which starts at 898,000 yuan and can reach 1.8 million yuan.

Sensors and cameras will be installed in the vehicle to monitor the driver's vital signs. If unusual symptoms are recognised, an artificial intelligence assistant intervenes to converse with the driver. If no response is received, the autonomous driving system takes over and guides the vehicle to safety. Virtual doctors can check in on the patient via the smart cockpit's screen.

“If we’re able to save one life, that’s enough,” Soh said in an interview with Bloomberg Television.

“We’re not making an ambulance. We’re making a premium car that contains smart AI to help people.”

Flush with cash, BeyonCa wants to build “sporty, sexy cars” for China’s super-premium segment, Soh said. The company is aiming for a lineup of three to five models with production of around 100,000 units a year. 

“China is probably the largest premium market in the world. Definitely. This is not even a question. We’re talking about millions, not hundreds,” he said.

“Super-premium electric vehicles will grow on a S curve and the S curve will take off somewhere around 2025.” 

The hefty sticker price could make the Opus 1 a tough sell in China, where more budget friendly cars from the likes of BYD are leading the way, especially among younger drivers. 

“It’s a nice humane concept, but my biggest question is whether this can become a major unique selling point for the car,” said Yale Zhang, managing director of Shanghai-based consultancy Automotive Foresight.

“Chinese EV owners are generally younger than 35. Most around this age think their bodies are great and might not be too concerned about health.”