China’s Zeekr, Xpeng to Offer L3 Autonomy in New EVs
HANGZHOU, China (Reuters) – Chinese automakers Zeekr Group and Xpeng announced this week that they will introduce electric vehicles (EVs) featuring technology enabling drivers to operate hands-free, signaling a significant escalation in the smart driving tech competition.
Zeekr, Xpeng, and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) each revealed plans to launch models with Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capabilities. This represents a notable shift in the sector, which has primarily offered Level 2 systems to date.
Zeekr plans to officially unveil its 9X sport utility vehicle (SUV) equipped with this technology at the Shanghai auto show in April, with deliveries expected to commence in the second half of 2025. Xpeng stated during a post-earnings analyst call that it aims to achieve L3-level software capabilities in the latter half of the year, with mass production of models incorporating L4-ready technology slated for 2026.
At a company event, GAC declared its intention to begin selling L3-ready models in 2025, with development also underway for L4 models, according to local media reports.
Understanding Autonomous Driving Levels
The automotive industry defines five levels of autonomous driving, ranging from Level 1 (cruise control) to Level 5 (fully self-driving). Level 3 signifies that a car can operate without human supervision, allowing drivers to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel for extended periods. However, drivers are required to be able to retake control within seconds when prompted.
Level 3 technology has seen limited use globally, primarily in trial settings. In June, China authorized an initial group of nine automakers, including BYD and Nio, along with major state-owned manufacturers such as Changan Automobile and GAC, to conduct public road tests of Level 3 vehicles.
These tests are critical for regulatory approval, which is essential for Zeekr, Xpeng, and GAC to permit drivers to utilize the Level 3 features in their vehicles.
Tech War in the World’s Largest Auto Market
These announcements highlight the evolution of the price war in China, the world’s largest automotive market, to a battleground of technological advancements.
Initially offered as a premium feature, smart driving technology is now becoming more accessible. BYD, a prominent Chinese EV manufacturer, announced last month that it would offer such systems across most of its lineup at no additional cost, prompting other companies to follow suit.
According to Chinese regulations, automakers assume legal responsibility for accidents resulting from Level 3 system failures. While Level 2 systems, such as those in Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, still require drivers to maintain constant attention and control, this level of autonomy is expected to become even more advanced in the coming years.
Zeekr’s CEO confirmed that the 9X SUV will integrate five lidars and a driving domain controller powered by two Nvidia Thor chips. CEO Andy An acknowledged that these features would significantly increase costs but are necessary to ensure safety at Level 3.
FILE PHOTO: People walk past a booth of Zeekr, Chinese automaker Geely’s premium electric vehicle (EV) brand, at a shopping mall in Beijing
(Reporting by Zhang Yan, Qiaoyi Li, Brenda Goh and Yukun Zhang; Editing by Louise Heavens and Mark Potter)
