Core Viewpoint - The recent trend of "free intelligent driving" services among various automotive companies has sparked significant discussion and competition in the industry, with companies like Leap Motor leading the charge by offering free intelligent driving software and refunds for previous payments [2][3][4]. Group 1: Company Initiatives - Leap Motor announced that from April 10, all intelligent driving software in its models will be free, including the high-speed intelligent navigation assistance (NAP) feature, and will refund fees to users who previously paid for NAP [3][4]. - BYD has also adopted a similar strategy, offering its high-level intelligent driving system, "Tianshen Eye," as standard across all models [3]. - Chery announced that its intelligent driving system, "Falcon Intelligent Driving," will be standard across all its brands starting in 2025 [3]. Group 2: Cost Dynamics - The cost of intelligent driving technology has decreased significantly, with the hardware cost for high-speed NAP now below 1,000 yuan, allowing companies to offer these features without additional charges [5]. - According to reports, the hardware cost for BYD's Tianshen Eye system has fallen to below 4,000 yuan [5]. Group 3: Market Reactions - Despite the push for free intelligent driving features, some companies like NIO and Tesla continue to charge for their services, with Tesla's enhanced autopilot priced at 32,000 yuan and subscription options available [6][7]. - NIO offers varying durations of free intelligent driving services with vehicle purchases, indicating a mixed approach in the market [7]. Group 4: Consumer Perspectives - A significant portion of consumers (90%) are willing to pay extra for advanced intelligent driving services, with 30% willing to pay over 10,000 yuan [10]. - However, consumer sentiment indicates that the usability and effectiveness of intelligent driving systems are more critical than whether they are free, with some expressing concerns over the reliability of these features [9][10].