China grants first conditional L3 self-driving permits to Changan’s Deepal SL03 and BAIC’s Arcfox Alpha S
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has officially announced the first batch of L3 conditional autonomous driving vehicle permits on December 15. Two electric vehicles will begin road testing in designated areas of Beijing and Chongqing, marking a step in China’s transition from testing to commercial application of L3 self-driving technology.
The approved vehicles include:
- Changan‘s Deepal brand SC7000AAARBEV pure electric sedan
- Capable of autonomous driving in congested traffic conditions on highways and urban expressways within a single lane
- Maximum autonomous speed of 50 km/h
- Testing is limited to specific sections in Chongqing, including the inner ring expressway, the new inner ring expressway (from Gaotanyan Interchange to Laijia Bridge Interchange), and Yudu Avenue (from Renhe Interchange to Airport Interchange)
- BAIC‘s Arcfox brand BJ7001A61NBEV pure electric sedan
- Capable of autonomous driving on highways and urban expressways within a single lane
- Maximum autonomous speed of 80 km/h
- Testing limited to designated sections in Beijing, including the Jingzhu Expressway (from Jiugong New Bridge in Daxing District to Airport North Line Expressway), Airport North Line Expressway (from Daqu South Bridge to Daxing Airport Expressway), and Daxing Airport Expressway (from South Sixth Ring Road to Airport North Line Expressway)
According to MIIT, both vehicles will be operated by separate entities in Chongqing and Beijing within the specified areas. Authorities will strengthen vehicle operation monitoring and safety measures while continuously improving intelligent connected vehicle admission management and regulatory standards to promote high-quality development of China’s intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry.
Editor’s comment
When a Level 3 conditional automated driving system is engaged within its designated operational design domain, if the system malfunctions and causes a vehicle collision, the automobile manufacturer should be held liable. However, comprehensive laws, regulations, and their interpretations are currently lacking.
Chongqing, where Changan is located, in southern China, is renowned as a “mountain city” for its complex, multi-layered transportation system. Beijing, where BAIC is based, is in the north and serves as the capital, making it closer to regulatory bodies. Selecting these two cities for pilot programs would likely lead to the further refinement of relevant laws and regulations throughout the piloting phase.
