China’s first batch of L3 autonomous driving vehicles have obtained the necessary permits to enter the market.

Today (the 15th), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially announced the first batch of permits for L3-level conditional autonomous driving vehicles in China. Two models, designed specifically for urban congestion and highway conditions respectively, will undergo road testing in designated areas of Beijing and Chongqing. This marks a crucial step forward for L3-level autonomous driving in China, as it moves beyond the testing phase and enters the stage of commercial application.

According to reports, the two models announced this time come from automobile manufacturers located in the south and the north of the country.

The pure electric sedan produced by the Chongqing-based automobile company can achieve autonomous driving at a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour in single lanes on highways and urban expressways under congested traffic conditions. Currently, this feature is only available on designated roads in Chongqing.

The pure electric sedan produced by the Beijing-based automobile company can achieve autonomous driving at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour in single lanes on highways and urban expressways. For now, this feature is also only available on designated roads in Beijing.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in the next step, the two models will be tested for road use in the aforementioned areas by the respective manufacturers in Chongqing and Beijing. Relevant departments will strengthen the monitoring of vehicle operations and ensure safety measures. They will also continue to improve the management system and regulatory framework for intelligent connected vehicles, in order to promote the high-quality development of China’s intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry.