Chinese Automakers Race to Launch Hands-Free Driving Technology
HANGZHOU, China, March 18 (Reuters) – Zeekr Group and Xpeng are set to launch electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with technology that will allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. This move marks a significant shift in the Chinese auto market, as these companies, along with Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), aim to roll out models with L3-ready autonomous driving capabilities.
Zeekr plans to unveil its 9X sport utility vehicle featuring this technology at the Shanghai autoshow in April, with deliveries expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Xpeng stated it would achieve L3-level software capabilities in the second half of the year, moving to mass-produce models with L4-ready technology in 2026.
At a company event, GAC announced it would begin selling L3-ready models in 2025 and is also developing L4 models, according to local media reports.
The auto industry defines five levels of autonomous driving, ranging from level one’s cruise control to level five’s full self-driving. Level three allows cars to drive without human supervision, enabling drivers to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel for extended periods, provided they can retake control within seconds.
Level three technology has, so far, only been used on a trial basis globally. In China, a select group of nine automakers, including BYD and Nio, were permitted to test level three vehicles on public roads in June. These tests are essential for regulators to approve such vehicles for public sale and operation. Zeekr, Xpeng, and GAC require regulatory approval before deploying level three features in their cars.
These announcements illustrate how the two-year price war in China, the world’s largest auto market, is intensifying, shifting its focus to technological advancements.
Smart-driving technology was previously a premium feature, but BYD announced it would offer such systems on most of its line-up at no additional cost. According to Chinese laws, automakers will take legal responsibility for traffic accidents in the event of level three system failures, and drivers are required to maintain constant attention with level two capabilities like Tesla’s Full Self-Driving.
Zeekr’s CEO revealed that the 9X SUV will use five lidars and a driving domain controller powered by a pair of Nvidia Thor chips. While this increases costs, it is vital for ensuring safety under level three driving conditions.
