L3 Autonomous Driving Bonanza in China - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica highlights a recent surge in Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving developments in China. L3 autonomous driving, defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers as "conditional driving automation," allows vehicles to operate hands-off and eyes-off under specific conditions—such as on highways or in low-speed traffic jams—while still requiring the driver to be ready to take control if needed. This level represents a significant step beyond Level 2 driver-assist technologies but stops short of full autonomy (Level 4), offering drivers moments of relief during commutes without the full complexity and cost of fully autonomous systems. China has recently made notable progress in L3 autonomous driving, issuing permits for regular passenger vehicles to operate at this level for the first time. Several major companies are actively testing and developing L3 technology: BYD has completed extensive testing in Shenzhen with 150,000 kilometers logged; XPENG is conducting tests in Guangzhou and aims to reach Tesla Full Self-Driving (FSD)