BYD steps up level 3 autonomous car push, begins testing

BYD is advancing its work on level 3 (L3) autonomous driving systems and has begun testing vehicles equipped with the technology in Shenzhen ahead of possible mass production.

The China-based EV maker said it has completed over 150,000 kilometers of real-world L3 testing but did not specify a timeline for production.

This move follows recent regulatory changes, as China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) granted licenses to Changan Automobile and BAIC to manufacture L3-equipped EVs for use in designated urban and highway areas.

L3 systems allow vehicles to drive themselves in certain conditions, but drivers must stay alert and ready to take control.

Most current intelligent driver-assistance systems in China remain at L2 or L2+ levels, where the driver must keep their hands on the wheel.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Changan’s Deepal SL03 runs only on Chongqing expressway stretches at up to 50 km/h in congested single-lane traffic, while Arcfox’s Alpha S uses designated Beijing expressways at up to 80 km/h with no autonomous lane changes 1.
China uses a cautious permit-when-mature approach with a three-step review of enterprise safety assessment, third-party testing, and expert review 1 2.
Regulators hold automakers responsible for safety in pilots 1. Drivers must stay ready to take over, and under China’s current L3 definition they remain liable for accidents 3.
BYD logged 150,000 km of trials across rain, nighttime, and construction zones 4. MIIT is shifting from test licenses to on-road pilot access for L3 vehicles 1.

Beijing approved three road sections, the Jingtai (Beijing-Taiwan), Airport North, and Daxing Airport expressways 3. Chongqing designated the Inner Ring Expressway, New Inner Ring Expressway, and Yudu Avenue 5. Shenzhen has about 1,000 km of test routes across expressways and arterials 5.
Vendors of high-definition (HD) maps for precise localization can focus on these cities as MIIT and local governments coordinate pilots and approvals 1 5. Makers of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) roadside units for car-to-infrastructure links and edge computing providers have openings 1 5.
Beijing plans to expand the pilot area to about 3,000 square kilometers 6. Ongoing infrastructure work creates near-term openings for compliance testing firms and insurance analytics for L3 operational monitoring 6.