China grants first level 3 autonomous vehicle permits

Beijing has approved China’s first two level-3 (L3) autonomous vehicles, allowing Changan Automobile and BAIC to manufacture EVs with “hands-off” driving features in specific zones.

Changan, a state-owned automaker based in Chongqing, will produce a model that can operate autonomously on urban roads at speeds up to 50km/h, while BAIC’s Arcfox-branded EV is permitted to drive on highways at up to 80km/h.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said both models passed safety tests, and will be monitored in collaboration with other authorities.

L3 systems, as defined by SAE International, let drivers take their hands off the wheel, but still require them to remain alert and ready to intervene.

Most current smart vehicles in China use L2 features, which require constant driver engagement.

The MIIT did not disclose when the new models would launch.

🔗 Source: South China Morning Post

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

China limits Level 3 (L3) approvals to narrow operational design domains

Beijing cleared Changan for urban roads up to 50 km/h and BAIC for highways up to 80 km/h 1. These approvals keep conditional automation within narrow operational design domains, the road types, speeds, and weather the system can handle 1.
China’s Road Traffic Safety Law (the main national traffic law) still follows rules for human-driven cars, so L3+ (L3 and above) access now runs through pilots in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen without unified national standards 1. China’s Ministry of Public Security (the national policing and traffic authority) said nearly all vehicles run at L2 partial automation that requires driver supervision 2. MIIT (China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) is drafting mandatory national safety standards for autonomous systems. The scope covers functional safety, human-machine interaction, and data recording from pilots 1.

Safety case and simulation vendors see demand from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seeking L3 homologation

BYD and Mercedes-Benz join OEMs developing L3-capable cars 3. That push raises demand for homologation (road-use approval) to meet emerging mandatory standards 3. L3 commercialization needs over one billion test kilometers so simulation platforms with AI-driven scenario tools create extreme weather, complex traffic, and edge-case scenes needed for safety validation 3. SGS (a global testing and certification firm), Applus+ Laboratories (a testing lab) and ATIC (a China-based testing certification provider) expanded testing in China 4. This serves OEMs in the evolving L3 approval process 4.