“Both models use facial recognition to unlock its doors for authorized users, and to personalize in-car settings for each recognized passenger.”

BYTON is showcasing its first drivable smart SUV at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show.

Operating on electric power, a rear-wheel drive model will support a driving range of a little under 250 miles, while a four-wheel drive model can go a little over 320 miles. Both models use facial recognition to unlock its doors for authorized users, and to personalize in-car settings for each recognized passenger. Meanwhile, a feature called ‘Air Touch’ allows passengers to interact with a shared display screen just by using hand gestures, while support for Amazon’s Alexa platform allows for voice-based interaction.

Looking to material design, the interior of the vehicle features a wooden floor and leather seats, with the front ones able to turn 12 degrees, allowing for greater interaction between passengers in the front and back seats.

As for its autonomous driving capability, BYTON is aiming to enable L3 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems for when the SUV goes into production in 2019, and L4 autonomous driving in 2020, which will arrive via a software update. The SUV will start at $45,000, and BYTON says it will be followed by a sedan by 2021.

BYTON’s is one of multiple smart car offerings to be showcased at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, where connected and smart car technologies are shaping up to be a major theme. CES 2018 is scheduled to run from January 9th to 12th in Las Vegas.