BYD receives conditional L3 autonomous driving vehicle testing license in July 2023

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On December 27, BYD announced via its official Weibo account that it had obtained the conditional L3 autonomous driving vehicle testing license in Shenzhen on July 21, becoming the first automotive company in China to receive this permit.

Prior to this annoucement, several automakers, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, IM Motors, ARCFOX, and Changan Auto, had also publicized their acquisition of such L3 autonomous driving vehicle testing licenses in various cities across China. 

These recent developments align with the recent policy releases. On November 17, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Ministry of Transport jointly released a notice, titled "Notice on Conducting Pilot Program for Intelligent Connected Vehicles." It authorized intelligent connected vehicles meeting production criteria and equipped with L3/L4 autonomous driving capabilities to conduct on-road trials in designated areas. Furthermore, responsibility for accidents occurring during autonomous driving activation falls on the operating entity, as stipulated.

Securing this license involves a series of examinations and procedures. In Beijing, for instance, the testing license for conditional L3 highway autonomous driving necessitates closed-site examinations, evaluations of autonomous driving capabilities, and expert reviews by relevant municipal departments.

The application process mandates that autonomous driving vehicles pass closed-site examinations and corresponding level assessments. These encompass adherence to traffic regulations, autonomous driving execution capabilities, and human intervention in emergency situations. Only vehicles meeting specified competency levels and passing safety technology inspections are allowed for on-road testing. Moreover, drivers must undergo at least 50 hours of training to take control of autonomous vehicles at any time. Pre-road deployment, vehicles need expert evaluations, and once operational, they require monitoring equipment to ensure compliance with prescribed trial parameters and continuous oversight.