Byton, the China-based EV startup has showcased their first production car, the M-Byte at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Interestingly, when the car is production ready it will maintain the ultra-wide digital screen first shown in concept form a year ago.
The curved screen, referred to as the Shared Experience Display (SED), measures 48 inches across and stretches the entire length of the dashboard. It is supported by a 7-inch touchscreen in the center of the steering wheel, just above the airbag, and an 8-inch touchpad in the center console between the driver and the front passenger. These smaller screens will work in conjugation with the 48-inch display to control vehicle functions. This is further supported using voice and gesture control systems as well as some physical buttons.
The SED will be the largest screen ever fitted into a production car when the M-Byte starts its production run in late 2019. Byton promises that it has been developed and tested to not affect the driver's line-of-sight. Moreover, it can automatically adjust brightness according to changes in ambient lighting and atmosphere to avoid further distraction. The SED's primary purpose is to provide vehicle and driving information, however it can also be used to capture and display a wide array of digital content including videos, photos, files, contacts info, and more. Passengers seated at the rear will also enjoy independent rear-seat entertainment screens that share content with the SED.
The M-Byte offers Level 3 semi-autonomous driving tech with Byton’s eventual goal being to build “mobile digital lounges” that will drive themselves. The M-Byte will be packed full with tech including built-in 5G support and artificial intelligence via the Byton Byte OS that integrates Amazon Alexa.
Byton will sell two versions of the M-Byte, an entry-level RWD model with a 71 kWh battery pack enabling 400 kms of range and an AWD variant with a 95 kWh battery and a range of 520 kms. Byton is currently testing prototypes for the M-Byte and plans to unveil the production version in the summer. The car will be produced at the company’s plant in Nanjing, China by mid-2019. The company is targeting a starting price of about $45,000 for The U.S. market.