- BYD confirms rotating screens will vanish, starting with the new Atto 2.
- Existing BYD models can’t run Apple CarPlay or Android Auto vertically.
- Brand’s vice-president says few drivers actually used the rotating display.
When BYD burst onto the global stage a few years ago, it arrived with a certain sense of experimentation that was hard to ignore, and the most visible example was its infotainment display that could spin 90 degrees and run in either portrait or landscape modes.
While mostly a gimmick, it has helped the brand’s models stand out from the competition. However, the Chinese conglomerate has revealed its spinning screen won’t be around for much longer.
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BYD’s vice president, Stella Li, said that while the company’s customers liked having the rotating screen, it is limiting for some apps, in particular Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
As such, the automaker has ditched it for the new Atto 2 and will eliminate it from other models, too. Moving forward, the screens will be locked in their landscape position.
“We are starting to engage in a lot of apps,” Li told Autocar. “The Atto 2 will be the first model with Google and Apple CarPlay. And if they want to give the best experience, then a rotating screen will limit their apps. And then secondly, we saw the feedback in the market. People love the rotating screens, but the usage is very small.”
Tech Trade-Offs
According to BYD, its infotainment screen had been easier to use in portrait mode when stationary and while on the move, in addition to being better for navigation.
However, in the models that we’ve driven, we’ve always found it easier to operate the screen in landscape mode, perhaps because this is the orientation of the screens in the vast majority of modern cars. Additionally, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto only function in that mode.
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During the same interview, Li also noted that BYD plans to deepen its collaborations with companies like Apple and Google, and locking the display orientation simplifies that process. A fixed screen means fewer interface compromises and smoother integration.
BYD is also ramping up its global ambitions. The company has set its sights on a major push in Europe for 2026. Just this week, its regional managing director announced plans to double the brand’s retail footprint across the continent next year, targeting around 1,000 retail points.
