- Companies including Nio, BYD, Changan, GAC, and SAIC are among those granted approval.
- The automakers will be allowed to test Level 3 autonomous systems on restricted roads.
- The changes come shortly after Elon Musk said Tesla could launch robotaxis in China to test its Full Self-Driving system.
China has given nine companies the go-ahead to start testing Level 3 autonomous driving systems on public roads. The move comes roughly eight months after the country issued guidelines for the nationwide scheme and started accepting applications from firms wanting to test their self-driving technology stacks.
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has confirmed that approval has been granted for Nio, BYD, Changan Auto, GAC, SAIC, BAIC BluePark, China FAW Group, SAIC Hongyan, and Yutong Bus. These companies will be allowed to test autonomous vehicles on restricted roads, and drivers will be permitted to take their hands off the steering wheel.
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Level 3 semi-autonomous vehicles are not yet available in China but these tests will pave the way for such systems to be launched locally for individual buyers and fleet operators. Reuters notes that at least 10 car manufacturers in China sell vehicles with level 2 systems, including Huawei and Xpeng.
The program will be overseen by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Public Security.
The new legislation also opens the door for Tesla to start offering its semi-autonomous driving systems in the country. In May, Elon Musk suggested the carmaker could launch a fleet of robotaxis in China with its Full Self-Driving technology before introducing the technology into privately owned cars. Chinese representatives were reportedly open to the idea. Before this happens, however, Tesla will need approval to collect and transfer the data required by its autonomous systems.
The Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are now allowed into certain parts of China that were previously off-limits because of data security concerns. Tesla received the thumbs up for letting the two EVs roam freely across the country after one of China’s leading automotive associations said they comply with data-security regulations.
