China's first large-scale L3 autonomous fleet enters public roads as DEEPAL begins real-world trials

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 26, a fleet of 46 DEEPAL vehicles equipped with Level 3 driver-assistance systems began real-world testing on public roads in Chongqing. The move marks China's first large-scale deployment of L3-capable vehicles in everyday traffic, signaling a shift from regulatory approval to genuine on-road application and laying important groundwork for the commercial rollout of intelligent connected vehicles.

Just days earlier, on December 20, some of the first official license plates dedicated to L3 autonomous driving was issued to a DEEPAL model under Changan Automobile. Granted by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the plate represents formal national approval for L3 vehicles to operate on public roads.Changan's progress reflects years of sustained investment. Since launching its L3 autonomous driving program in 2017, the automaker has steadily advanced its technology roadmap, culminating in the award of the country's first official L3 license plate.

The path to this milestone has been gradual but decisive. In November 2023, Changan secured 17 L3 testing permits for highways and expressways. By June 2024, it was named among the first group of nine companies selected for national L3 access pilot programs. In December 2025, the company formally obtained approval for intelligent connected vehicles to enter public-road trials, with the DEEPAL brand ultimately receiving the first official L3 plate.

DEEPAL's large-scale rollout is underpinned by Changan Automobile's deep technical foundation and long-term commitment to research and development. The automaker operates a global collaborative R&D network spanning ten locations in six countries, with more than 200 laboratories across 16 technical domains. Over the past five years, cumulative R&D spending has exceeded 60 billion yuan.

Industry observers note a clear distinction between nationally issued L3 access permits and locally granted testing licenses. The former, recognized by public security authorities, carry the same legal standing as standard vehicle plates and allow full participation in official on-road pilot programs. This enables the long-term, high-frequency collection of real-world driving data—an essential foundation for validating system reliability and usability, and a critical step in moving China's autonomous driving industry from mass production toward higher-quality application.

By contrast, regional testing permits are temporary and time-limited, designed primarily for technical validation. Vehicles operating under such licenses remain in the development and testing phase rather than true commercial use.

As 2025 draws to a close, DEEPAL has maintained strong momentum. Alongside launching China's first large-scale fleet of officially licensed L3 vehicles on public roads, the brand announced the completion of a 6.122-billion-yuan Series C funding round, providing fresh capital to support continued innovation in intelligent and electric vehicle technologies.