“终于上路了”！车企竞逐L3

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recent approval of L3 level conditional autonomous driving vehicles by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China, highlighting the competitive landscape among various automotive companies to secure entry into this advanced driving technology market [2][4][12]. Group 1: Approval and Launch of L3 Vehicles - BAIC and Changan have received approval for their L3 level conditional autonomous driving vehicles, marking a significant step in the commercialization of autonomous driving technology in China [4][12]. - The first batch of approved L3 vehicles includes the BAIC Arcfox Alpha S and Changan SC7000AAARBEV, which are set to operate in designated areas in Beijing and Chongqing [4][12]. - The BAIC Arcfox Alpha S can achieve autonomous driving at speeds up to 80 km/h on specific highways and urban expressways, with plans to gradually open access to individual users by Q2 2026 [12][13]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape and Testing - Multiple automotive companies, including BYD, NIO, and Geely, are competing for L3 level conditional autonomous driving licenses, with some obtaining local government permits for road testing [7][15]. - The distinction between the licenses issued by the Ministry of Industry and local governments is significant; the former allows for commercial pilot operations, while the latter is primarily for research and testing purposes [16]. - Geely's vehicles have received road testing permits in Hangzhou, covering an area of 9,224 square kilometers, which will help in accumulating real-world data for optimizing autonomous driving technologies [15][16]. Group 3: Future Developments and Collaborations - The approval of L3 vehicles is seen as a pivotal moment for the autonomous driving industry, with expectations that 2026 will mark the beginning of mass production for L3 technology [18]. - BAIC is planning to introduce more high-end models equipped with L3 technology and is focusing on the development of Robotaxi services as a key application for commercializing autonomous driving [18][19]. - A strategic partnership between BAIC and Pony.ai aims to promote the deployment of the Arcfox T5 Robotaxi, with plans to establish a comprehensive operational model and technical standards for global markets [19][21].