China allows first Level 3 driving tech trial on these two electric cars

Deepal SL03 electric car. (Photo: Carnewschina)

China has officially granted conditional test permits for vehicles with Level 3 autonomous driving technology to two electric car models, marking a step forward in the implementation of smart car technology in the country. This permit was announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China on December 15, 2025.

The two vehicles that received the permit are the Deepal SL03 produced by Changan and the Arcfox Alpha S6 from BAIC. Both models will begin trials in designated areas in the cities of Beijing and Chongqing, with the aim of accelerating the transition from the testing stage to the commercial application of Level 3 autonomous driving technology.

Deepal SL03, a pure electric sedan from the Deepal brand, is capable of running autonomous driving functions in dense traffic conditions on toll roads and urban expressways in a single lane, with a maximum autonomous speed of 50 kilometers per hour. Testing for this model is limited to certain sections of road in Chongqing, including the inner ring expressway and Yudu Avenue.

Meanwhile, the Arcfox Alpha S6, an electric sedan from BAIC, has autonomous driving capabilities on expressways and urban expressways in a single lane with a maximum autonomous speed of 80 kilometers per hour. Trials for this vehicle are scheduled on several roads in Beijing, such as the Jingzhu Expressway and the Daxing Airport Expressway.

In an official explanation, the Ministry stated that the two vehicles will be operated by different entities in each city according to the designated areas. The authorities will also increase supervision of vehicle operations and safety aspects, and continue to refine the regulatory standards related to smart connected vehicles to support the development of a high-quality new energy vehicle industry in China.

This regulation is an important step because Level 3 autonomous driving technology allows cars to operate without constant supervision from the driver, an advance from Level-2 technology that still requires significant human involvement. A number of discussions have also emerged regarding the legal aspects when autonomous systems fail.

Reported by CarNewsChina, Monday, December 15, it was noted that if the active Level 3 system is damaged and causes an accident, the car manufacturer must be responsible. However, the detailed rules and legal interpretations related to this matter are still incomplete.