China gives first approvals for public trials of advanced autonomous driving (updated)

Baic Motor

04/06/2024 11:48

(Recasts, adds detail, context)
       BEIJING, June 4 (Reuters) - China has granted approval
to a first group of nine automakers to carry out tests on
vehicles with advanced autonomous driving technologies on public
roads, as part of a plan to accelerate adoption of self-driving
cars. 
    The tests of so-called level three autonomous driving
technologies will be carried out by automakers including BYD
 1211.HK  and Nio  9866.HK , as well as major state-owned
manufacturers such as Changan Automobile  000625.SZ , GAC
 601238.SS  and SAIC  600104.SS , according to a statement
published by the industry ministry on Tuesday. 
    Fleet operators such as ride-hailing companies will also be
involved in the tests. 
    The auto industry has defined five levels of autonomous
driving, spanning driver assistance features such as cruise
control at level one to fully self-driving cars at level five.
    China issued the guideline of the nationwide scheme last
November to start accepting applications from companies that
seek to roll out more fully autonomous driving vehicles for mass
adoption. 
    In the plan, drivers in the test vehicles are allowed to
take their hands off the steering wheels, with automakers and
fleet operators taking responsibility for safety. 
    The ministry said the trial would pave way for further
commercialisation of more advanced autonomous driving
technologies, without elaborating. Automaker executives said it
was a step closer to allowing level three vehicles to be sold
to, and used by, individual buyers and fleet operators.
    At least 10 automakers and suppliers including Huawei
 HWT.UL  and Xpeng  9868.HK  have been offering level two
autonomous driving capabilities in China, which still require an
attentive driver with hands on the wheel. 
    Tesla  TSLA.O  is also preparing to deliver its "Full
Self-Driving" (FSD) software to Chinese users within the year,
Reuters has reported. FSD is also a level-two system but Tesla
CEO Elon Musk has said more fully autonomous vehicles are close.

 (Reporting by Zhang Yan in Shanghai, Qiaoyi Li and Ryan Woo in
Beijing 
Editing by Mark Potter)
 ((qiaoyi.li@thomsonreuters.com;))