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In China, new automakers are being allowed to test self-driving systems on highways and highways, intensifying the race to advance L3 self-driving technology. Among the latest companies is Chinese auto giant BYD, which has joined Mercedes and BMW in getting permission to test L3 technology on highways.
BYD announced that it has received permission to test vehicles equipped with the L3 autonomous driving system on expressways in Shenzhen. The automaker was the first to receive its license in China on July 21, the company announced in a statement on its official Weibo account. Reuters reported that the BMW Group also announced earlier this month that it had received a test license for L3 autonomous driving on Shanghai’s expressways. Mercedes-Benz also just announced plans to conduct L3 autonomous driving tests on designated expressways in Beijing.
L3 autonomous driving pioneer Mercedes-Benz recently announced its Drive Pilot system in the U.S. and European markets as the world’s first SEA Level 3 certified system and the only system available for deployment in the United States. DrivePilot, available only on the S-Class, is legally allowed to be tested in very limited areas, including Nevada, California, and Germany, with expansion expected soon. In China, the company is currently adapting its L3 system to China’s infrastructure and traffic conditions, and has been testing it on closed roads since 2021. Since then, the research team has continued to improve it “by adapting and optimizing it to local road signs and signage.” According to the algorithm, China Daily.
IM Motors, the electric vehicle brand of state-owned SAIC Motor and e-commerce giant Alibaba, has also applied to the government to enter L3 vehicle products, and its models will be among the first to enter the country’s L3 pilot program. says the company. , according to Reuters. IM Motors announced last week that it had received permission to test L3 vehicles on Shanghai’s expressways alongside BMW.
The jump from L2 to L3 is a significant upgrade, with car manufacturers effectively taking on responsibility for road accidents on behalf of drivers, and it marks a significant transition from assisted driving to autonomous driving. SEA Level 3, known as “conditional autonomous driving,” allows most aspects of driving, such as keeping an eye on the road and monitoring traffic, without human intervention, while giving drivers the freedom to do other things. Managed by. Of course, a human driver must take the wheel when called upon.
China, the world’s largest car market, has also given automakers ArcFox and Deepal permission to test L3 systems on closed roads in the country.
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