L3-Level Autonomous Driving Receives First Approval for Market Access in China

[Technical Breakthrough] The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has granted conditional approval for the Changan Deepal SL03 and BAIC Arcfox Alpha S models to access public roads with L3-level conditional autonomous driving capabilities.

Key Development: L3 Autonomous Driving Enters Commercial Application Phase

On December 15, 2025, MIIT conditionally approved pilot road testing for the Changan Deepal SL03 and BAIC Arcfox Alpha S (L3 version) with L3-level conditional autonomous driving functionality. This marks China’s first national-level market access permit for L3 vehicles, signifying a critical transition from closed-environment testing to real-world user deployment.

Strategic Foundation: Long-Term R&D Investments by Changan and BAIC Recognized

As early as 2019, Changan demonstrated L4-level autonomous driving capabilities. Both automakers were also included in the initial L3 pilot list announced a year and a half ago. From an original pool of nine pilot models down to just two approved vehicles, this selective outcome underscores their sustained investment and regulatory compliance strength in the L3 domain.

Industry Impact: Bridging the Gap Between Two Extremes

Amid a landscape where L2 adoption is widespread and L4 exploration is accelerating, L3 serves as the pivotal link between current and future autonomy. This breakthrough will expedite the establishment of a replicable autonomous driving operational framework and steer intelligent driving development back toward a rational, sustainable trajectory.