Byton's M-Byte 'ready for digital age' with giant cockpit screen

Chinese startup Byton said its M-Byte electric crossover is "ready for the digital age" with its 48-inch display screen that extends right across the car's cockpit.

The display is integrated into the dashboard and can be used in split-screen mode with three separate areas of content.

The wide display is the largest of its type in a production car and was designed for to be ready for shared mobility and assisted driving, Byton said in a statement.

The driver can use the display with a 7-inch tablet in the center of the steering wheel, while the front seat passenger can use the screen with an 8-inch tablet.

The interface will enhance the M-Byte's appeal in today's world where cars are getting more driver assistance features and people spend more time in their vehicles, Byton says.

"We want to help people use the time they spend in their car," Byton Chief Technical Officer David Twohig told Automotive News Europe.

The interface recognizes faces and the natural speech and can be activated by hand movements, touch or by a small number of buttons.

In addition, the front seats can be turned inwards to "create a communicative space for the passengers," said Twohig, a former Renault executive who led development of the automaker's Alpine A100 sports car and the Zoe small battery-powered hatchback.

Although the M-Byte currently only supports Level 2 autonomous driving that covers features such as adaptive cruise control and steering and brake assistance, the M-Byte was designed to be ready for more advanced self-driving technology.

Byton aims the M-Byte at premium SUV buyers against rivals such as the Mercedes EQC battery-powered crossover.

The company plans to begin deliveries of the M-Byte in China in the middle of next year, followed by Europe and China in the first half of 2021.

The M-Byte will start 53,550 euros in Germany including VAT.

Byton expects more than half of the sales will be in China. The rest will be split between Europe and the U.S., Twohig said.

Byton plans to sell most of its cars through online sales, relying on local distribution companies to deliver the cars and carry out servicing. The automaker will have just a small number of stores in big cities, Twohig said.

Byton said it currently has more than 50,000 reservations worldwide for the M-Byte. It also plans to launch an electric sedan and electric minivan at a later date.

Byton CEO Daniel Kirchert, a former BMW executive, said in EV hot spots, such as Norway and the Netherlands, "we see a very positive response."

Europe is at "a tipping point" for acceptance of electric vehicles, he said.

Byton aims to go ahead with U.S. sales even if there are high tariffs on imported vehicles from China. Tariffs would threaten the company's goal of selling vehicles at a starting price of about $45,000. Kirchert said.

"We decided no matter what" Byton will launch in the United States, even at a higher price, he said.

The M-Byte is powered by a rear-mounted 268-hp electric motor. The base version will have a 72-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a 360-km (224-mile) range under Europe's WLTP test cycle.

A 402 hp all-wheel drive version also will be offered, with a 95-kWh battery and a front motor in addition to the rear one. Its range will be 435 km (271 miles).

Byton's investors include Chinese automotive giant FAW, Foxconn Technology Group, Tencent internet technology group and Chinese retailer Suning.

The company has built a factory in the east China city of Nanjing, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 units. Production will start in mid-2020.

The M-Byte was designed in Europe by Byton's design center in Munich, Germany.

Automobilwoche and Reuters contributed to this report