GUOTAI HAITONG SECURITIES·2025-12-16 02:20Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Accumulate" rating for the industry [2][11]. Core Insights - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has approved two L3 autonomous driving vehicle models, marking the official entry of China into the L3 era of autonomous driving. The next step involves pilot road tests in specific areas of Chongqing and Beijing [3][5]. - Recommended stocks include China Automotive Engineering Research Institute, Nexteer Automotive, XPeng Motors-W, and Changan Automobile, which are expected to benefit from early positioning in the L3 autonomous driving market [3][5]. - The L3 era is anticipated to create incremental business opportunities for the automotive testing industry and automotive hardware, with specific recommendations for China Automotive Engineering Research Institute and Nexteer Automotive [5]. Summary by Sections Regulatory Approval - The report highlights that the two approved models, one from Changan and the other from Arcfox, can operate under autonomous driving functions at speeds of up to 50 km/h and 80 km/h, respectively, in designated areas of Chongqing and Beijing [5][6]. Financial Projections - The report provides earnings per share (EPS) estimates for the recommended stocks, with China Automotive Engineering Research Institute projected at 1.01 CNY for 2025, Nexteer Automotive at 0.06 USD, XPeng Motors-W at -0.53 CNY, and Changan Automobile at 0.84 CNY [6]. Market Context - The report notes that the approval of L3 vehicles signifies a significant advancement in China's autonomous driving capabilities, which is expected to enhance the market landscape for related automotive companies [5].