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China Curtails Self-Driving Push With Only Narrow Level 3 Trials Approved

Following a fatal Xiaomi crash, regulators limited trials to address safety, liability, marketing risks.

Overview

  • The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved only two of nine automaker proposals, restricting them to further testing rather than mass production.
  • BAIC’s Arcfox in Beijing and Changan in Chongqing are confined to three highway stretches each, with no computer-controlled lane changes and driver control required outside the zones.
  • Geely, XPeng and Li Auto can continue Level 3 road testing but have no authorization for commercial service.
  • Manufacturers that preinstalled Level 3 hardware are now selling those vehicles with downgraded Level 2 software pending broader clearance.
  • Following the March Xiaomi SU7 fatality, authorities warned drivers about assisted-driving limits and banned marketing terms such as “smart driving” or “autonomous driving.”