China Allows Level 3 Autonomous Driving in Traffic Jams

ADAS Level 3 China Allows Autonomous Driving – But Only in Traffic Jams

2026-01-07 From Henrik Bork | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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Two electric cars are allowed to drive on the road with level 3 assistance systems for the first time. However, only on certain routes, at a maximum speed of 80 km/h (~50 mph) and in traffic jams. Foreign manufacturers are left empty-handed.

Logo of the Chinese car brand Changan. The manufacturer is one of only two in China to have received a license for level 3 assistance systems.

(Image: Wehner/VCG)

The first two car manufacturers in China have received approval for level 3 automated driving. In mid-December, the Ministry of Industry (MIIT) in Beijing authorized them to carry out test drives on precisely defined routes in two cities in the country. Two state-owned car manufacturers won the race for the first level 3 licenses - Changan for its Deepal SL02 electric sedan and Arcfox from the Baic Group for its Alpha S6 electric sedan. Foreign manufacturers who have also submitted applications in China must continue to wait patiently.

For the first time, two regular electric vehicles have been granted permission to operate semi-autonomously on public roads throughout China under certain conditions. Previously, Level 3 and above had only been permitted for robotaxis. However, even these are allowed to operate only in specific cities, where they must be re-approved regularly.

Two Manufacturers Receive ADAS License

With these first two licenses from the MIIT in Beijing, that changes. For the first time, two manufacturers have received general product licenses for the safety of their Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for standard passenger cars nationwide up to Level 3. These permits are considered a significant step towards autonomous driving in China and signal once again that the government in Beijing aims to vigorously promote this new technology and hopefully dominate it globally in the future.

However, these two licenses do not mean that vehicles of this brand can now freely drive anywhere in China while their drivers take their hands off the wheel and focus on consuming their WeChat messages.

Level 3, But Under Strict Conditions

Rather, the two manufacturers have been given strict conditions to follow for the time being. The Arcfox is only permitted to activate Level 3 ADAS during pilot trials in Beijing and only on specific sections of urban highways, such as the Jingtai Expressway or the Daxing Airport Expressway. This is also limited to a maximum speed of 80 km/h (~50 mph).

The Changan model is currently only allowed to be tested with this function in Chongqing in Sichuan Province, again only up to a top speed of 50 km/h (~30 mph) and only on specific roads. Moreover, as a precautionary measure, it has been stipulated that the vehicle must be moving only in traffic jams.

"We want to enable innovations but at the same time ensure safety," said MIIT official Liu Fawang during the granting of the licenses, as noted on the official website of the ministry.

More Licenses Could Follow in 2026

Despite the many conditions, this represents an important signal from the regulatory authorities to the domestic automotive industry. Firstly, the two automakers can gradually apply for test licenses in many Chinese cities. They are therefore likely not far from mass production of their Level 3 technology stacks. Secondly, it is generally anticipated that soon more manufacturers will receive such permits. The year 2026 could become "the Year of Level 3" in China, according to several comments from Chinese media.

The MIIT approvals are of "symbolic importance" for the industry, quoted Sun Hang, the chief engineer at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, in the science newspaper Keji Ribao. It is, after all, the first time that autonomous vehicles are allowed to be "brought to market as regular products so that their commercial application can be tested in pilot projects," said the expert.

At Level 3, drivers are allowed to take their hands off the wheel under certain conditions and do not need to look forward, though they must be able to regain control within a few seconds after a warning signal. In the event of an accident, liability for Level 3 in China partially lies with the driver and partially with the automaker and suppliers.

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