Overview
- The pilot confines operation to designated expressways and urban fast roads in Chongqing, where the system manages following, speed control and single-lane keeping in congestion.
- Changan says drivers must remain ready to resume control and will receive audio cues and seatbelt tugs before the vehicle executes a minimum-risk maneuver if takeover prompts go unanswered.
- In L3 scenarios, crash responsibility may extend to the driver, the automaker and system suppliers, with fault assignments based on operational data.
- Public access is limited because the feature is not broadly available to private owners, though ride-hailing trips ordered in the Changan Zhixing app may be matched to an L3 vehicle.
- The rollout follows national approval on December 15 for only Deepal and BAIC Arcfox, issuance of the first L3 plate on December 20, and authorization on December 26 for 46 Deepal cars to operate on specified Chongqing routes.