China advances AI-driven autonomous vehicles as it moves ahead with large scale production of self driving vehicles.
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is set to drive an industrial revolution and accelerate the development of China’s autonomous and intelligent connected vehicles. AI is becoming a crucial strategic opportunity for the automotive sector, according to national lawmakers, political advisers, and experts.
As China pushes forward with the large-scale production and commercialization of self-driving vehicles, experts emphasized the need for improved regulations and standards for autonomous driving. They also called for faster development of intelligent transportation infrastructure and expanded testing across diverse scenarios to support the integration of autonomous vehicles.
Their remarks align with the latest Government Work Report, which highlights China’s “AI Plus” initiative. This strategy aims to facilitate the widespread application of advanced AI models while promoting new-generation intelligent devices and smart manufacturing equipment, including AI-powered new energy vehicles.
He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors, believes AI is ushering in a transformative era that will accelerate the emergence of self-driving and even fully driverless vehicles. His company has heavily invested in AI, developing its own AI-powered chips to enhance intelligent driving capabilities.
As a deputy to China’s top legislature, He Xiaopeng predicts that 2025 will be a turning point for intelligent driving, as breakthroughs in key technologies like algorithms, sensors, and computing platforms will enable mass production of Level 3 autonomous driving technology.
Autonomous driving is classified from Level 0 to Level 5, with increasing intelligence reducing human involvement. Level 3 automation allows vehicles to perform driving tasks under specific conditions with environmental awareness, though human intervention remains possible.
Xpeng Motors plans to launch its Level 3 autonomous driving technology in the second half of the year, with ambitions to develop Level 4 capabilities, including fully driverless parking, by 2026. Level 4 vehicles can handle most driving tasks independently, though a manual override option is still available.
Feng Xingya, chairman of GAC Group, emphasized that AI is a fundamental force reshaping the automotive industry, enhancing intelligent driving and human-machine interactions while transforming vehicles into smart terminals. As a national lawmaker, he outlined GAC’s commitment to integrating AI into vehicle research, production, and marketing.
Feng highlighted the importance of commercializing self-driving technology, stressing that autonomous driving is a core element of intelligent connected vehicles and smart transportation. GAC, among the pioneers testing Level 3 autonomous vehicles on public roads, aims to mass-produce such vehicles this year. He also proposed updating traffic laws to address liability issues related to self-driving cars and called for the development of specific legislation on intelligent driving.
China has introduced several policies in recent years to advance the development and commercialization of autonomous vehicles. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has supported the commercial application of Level 3 and above self-driving systems, with over 50 cities implementing pilot demonstration policies and expanding autonomous vehicle testing.
Wang Xianjin, vice-president and chief engineer at the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, noted that self-driving vehicle testing and operations in China have accelerated significantly, laying a solid foundation for commercialization. As a national political adviser, he urged the government to revise policies supporting self-driving technology and expand pilot operations to more cities.
Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi Corp and a national lawmaker, proposed creating a national testing and verification system for autonomous vehicles. He stressed the need to accelerate the mass production of self-driving cars, aiming for widespread use on highways, expressways, and urban roads by 2026.
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