Volkswagen begins Level 3 autonomous driving road tests in east China

HEFEI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- German automaker Volkswagen has started testing Level 3 autonomous driving technology on public roads in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, after obtaining a road test permit, Volkswagen Group China announced on Monday.

The permit authorizes real-world on-road testing and large-scale data collection. Volkswagen aims to have its Level 3 autonomous driving technology ready by 2027.

"At Volkswagen, safety and reliability come first in autonomous driving. With this permit, we can test in real traffic in Hefei and collect data at scale. It is the next step on our road to Level 3 readiness," said Ralf Brandstätter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.

Level 3, or conditional driving automation, allows vehicles to perform dynamic automated driving tasks while requiring a human driver to remain available to take control when requested.

Volkswagen has been developing its autonomous driving technology in China through CARIZON, a joint venture between its software subsidiary CARIAD and Chinese technology company Horizon Robotics.

The group has also introduced Hyper Sense 8, its first full-scenario advanced driver assistance system, and is developing its own L4-ready system-on-chip, known as C7H, designed to support capabilities up to Level 4 autonomous driving.

Volkswagen Group has invested more than 3.5 billion euros in Hefei, where its Volkswagen Group China Technology Company, the group's largest R&D center outside Germany, is located, housing about 3,000 R&D professionals.

The city, where Volkswagen Anhui is based, is a key hub in China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. In 2025, Hefei produced over 1.37 million NEVs, the most among all Chinese cities. It is home to major carmakers including JAC, BYD and NIO, along with a supply chain spanning power batteries, automotive electronics and intelligent driving.

China has been gradually expanding the use of autonomous driving technology under a regulatory framework. In December 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology granted conditional approvals to two Level 3-equipped electric vehicle models produced by Changan Automobile and BAIC Motor's Arcfox, allowing trials on select roads in Chongqing and Beijing, respectively.

In July 2026, China issued a mandatory national safety standard for M- and N-category vehicles equipped with Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving systems, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027. It also calls for stronger capabilities in performing dynamic driving tasks, while specifying requirements for human-machine interaction and user notification to prevent misuse and abuse.