GAC HYPTEC secures China's first 120 km/h L3 highway test license

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC HYPTEC has become the first automaker in China to receive authorization to conduct Level 3 autonomous-driving tests at highway speeds of up to 120 km/h, marking a significant step in moving conditional-automation technology from controlled R&D environments toward real-world use, according to a press release issued on the automaker's WeChat account on Nov. 18.

The approval grants the company a dedicated L3 testing license for specific scenarios, positioning it at the forefront of China's push toward higher-level autonomous driving.

The model cleared for testing is the HYPTEC A800, the first flagship sedan jointly developed under the deep strategic partnership between GAC and Huawei. The vehicle integrates GAC's proprietary Xingling safety architecture with Huawei's ADS 4 driving system to create an all-scenario protection suite spanning intelligent chassis safety, active–passive safety coordination and battery protection. To ensure reliability in extreme conditions, the sedan features eight layers of redundancy across core subsystems, including computing, communications, power supply, steering, positioning, perception, braking and parking.

The A800 is equipped with an extensive sensing suite comprising 34 high-precision sensors, including 4D millimeter-wave radar, high-resolution cameras, high-beam LiDAR and solid-state LiDAR. Together, these components deliver full 360-degree perception, providing the situational awareness required for L3 highway automation.

Measuring 5,130 mm in length with a 3,020-mm wheelbase, the A800 is built around a 1.5-liter range-extended hybrid system paired with a 250-kW drive motor. The sedan, representing a concentration of GAC and Huawei's latest intelligent-vehicle technologies, will make its public debut at the Auto Guangzhou 2025 on November 21, where its L3 capabilities will be demonstrated for the first time.

Level 3 autonomous driving allows the system to take full control of driving tasks under restricted conditions, while requiring the human driver to remain ready to intervene. The license granted to GAC HYPTEC covers operation on mainline highways and permits testing at China's legal maximum speed, underscoring the maturity and robustness of the company's technology. The milestone not only validates the A800's engineering readiness but is also expected to accelerate the commercialization of advanced driver assistance systems across the country.