Volkswagen Group China has obtained an official license to conduct Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving tests on public roads in the city of Hefei, with actual testing already underway. The license also includes large-scale driving data collection within the city, marking an important development in the company's strategy to achieve Level 3 technical readiness in the Chinese market by 2027, coinciding with the Group's first China Technology Day events.
Technological Infrastructure and Autonomous Driving System
The company explained that the license was issued in accordance with the latest mandatory security design standard established by Chinese authorities. The software ecosystem relies on Volkswagen's CARIZON intelligent driving unit, which originally originated as a joint venture between CARIAD and Horizon Robotics, and is based on the driving assistance system linked to Hyper Sense 8 software, along with the internally developed GAIA 2.0 model for conducting daily security simulations. The company is also developing a dedicated chip named C7H capable of supporting Level 4 capabilities.
What Does This License Represent?
This license is restricted to testing only and does not grant the company the right to commercially sell vehicles equipped with the Level 3 system to consumers. This step comes at a time when other Chinese companies such as Changan, BAIC, JAC, and Xpeng have preceded it in obtaining similar approvals or testing licenses, placing Volkswagen in a position of catching up with local competitors within the Chinese market.
What Does This Mean for Users and the Sector?
Level 3 legally transfers the driving responsibility from the driver to the car manufacturer when the system is activated, which explains why few companies are keen to launch it under strict regulations that include low speeds and specific roads. At a time when some companies prefer to skip this level and move directly to Level 4, Volkswagen continues to strengthen its local partnerships to develop its digital infrastructure and advanced software for modern electric vehicles.