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China Issues First L3 Autonomous Driving Permits for Arcfox Alpha S and Deep Blue SL03

Regulators are shifting L3 from validation to controlled road use through a product access plus trial mechanism.

Overview

  • MIIT granted conditional approvals to the two models with on-road trials limited to designated zones in Beijing for urban congestion and Chongqing for highways.
  • BAIC says the Arcfox Alpha S L3 uses 34 sensors including three lidars with full-chain redundancy and a traceable data recorder, after more than 800,000 km of equivalent testing and multi‑domain safety checks.
  • BAIC plans to begin L3 operations in specific scenarios in the first quarter of 2026.
  • Huawei confirmed the Arcfox L3 runs its Qian Kun ADS system and outlined a highway L3 roadmap with internal tests across multiple cities and models plus related parking, charging and service integrations.
  • China’s auto industry association described the permits as a step into mass‑production application, stressing lifecycle data management, cybersecurity and a “mature one, permit one” path to wider rollout.