Moderation Team
(An Aito M9 displayed at the Shanghai auto show in April 2025. Image credit: CnEVPost)
Huawei’s HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) business has recently partnered with transportation authorities to initiate internal testing of Level 3 conditional autonomous driving in Shenzhen, according to a report today by local media outlet Cailian.
Unlike conventional R&D testing, this pilot aims to validate the safety and product maturity of L3 systems for ordinary users through real-world road conditions and authentic user data, providing evidence for national L3 policies, the report said.
The pilot initiative is jointly promoted by government departments including Shenzhen’s Transport Bureau and Development and Reform Commission, the report cited sources as saying.
Huawei employees are participating in the test using personally purchased 2025 Aito M9 and Maextro S800 vehicles, covering all 1,000 kilometers of highways and rapid roads within Shenzhen, the report said.
To date, the effort has completed over 20,000 kilometers of real-world road validation, Cailian said.
This testing comes as China undergoes a major update to its L3 regulations. Yesterday, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced approval for two L3 autonomous driving models: one from Changan Automobile (SHE: 000625) and another from Arcfox, the electric vehicle (EV) division of Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group).
This marks China’s first issuance of L3 autonomous driving permits for conventional passenger vehicles. The Changan Deepal SL03 and Arcfox Alpha S sedan are now authorized for public testing on designated roads.
The Arcfox Alpha S is equipped with Huawei’s Qunkun ADS smart driving system, while the Deepal SL03 utilizes Changan’s in-house developed smart driving system.
This marks a new beginning, and Huawei will continue striving to make travel safer, the tech giant’s Qiankun intelligent vehicle solutions business said yesterday on Weibo.
China’s industrial regulator has for the first time approved two Level 3 autonomous driving models, from Changan and Arcfox respectively.
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