Wang Chuanfu introduces the Lingyuan system during the release event held in Pingshan District on March 2. Photos from BYD

Pingshan-based automaker BYD has partnered with drone giant DJI to launch Lingyuan — an integrated, vehicle-mounted drone system.

According to Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD, the system enables vehicles to obtain a vertical field of view and integrates the vehicle with an unmanned aircraft. The system will be available across all BYD models.

The fast-charging version of the Lingyuan intelligent vehicle-mounted drone system is priced at 16,000 yuan. During the launch event held in Pingshan District on March 2, the Fang Cheng Bao Bao 8, equipped with the unmanned aircraft, was also unveiled, with prices ranging from 395,800 to 423,800 yuan.

As explained by Yang Dongsheng, BYD's senior vice president, the Lingyuan system features a retractable car-mounted landing pad, enabling automated takeoff and landing, synchronized follow-shooting, and rapid storage and charging of the drone.

The Lingyuan system will be available across all BYD models.

The Lingyuan system is available in two versions. The battery swap version, equipped with the DJI Mavic 3 drone, allows for automatic battery swapping and continuous battery life. It is primarily installed on BYD’s Yangwang brand. The fast-charging version, equipped with the DJI Air 3S customized vehicle-mounted drone, is mainly installed on BYD’s Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, and Fang Cheng Bao models.

“The collaboration between BYD and DJI is far more than just placing a drone in a car,“ said Wang Chuanfu during the launch event. “Starting from the underlying technology, we have designed and developed a vehicle integration system, successfully achieving a deep integration of the vehicle and the unmanned aircraft.”

BYD, founded in 1995 as a battery manufacturer, has been at the forefront of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. In 2024, the company saw NEV sales soar 41.26% year on year to over 4.27 million units.