BYD Surpasses 150,000 Kilometers in Self-Driving Tests, Approaching Level 3 Systems Launch
Chinese company BYD, a global leader in electric vehicle manufacturing, has announced that it has completed more than 150,000 kilometers of field tests as part of the development of Level 3 autonomous driving systems.
Level 3 autonomous driving, known as “hands-free driving,” allows the vehicle to operate independently while requiring the driver to remain alert and ready to intervene when necessary. This level differs from the currently available Level 2 systems in China, where drivers are not required to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times.
According to the specialized website China Business News, BYD is working closely with local authorities to complete essential testing stages before transitioning to mass production, although the company has yet to reveal a specific timeline for the launch of its first vehicles equipped with this technology.
This development occurs within a rapidly advancing regulatory framework, as the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently granted the first Level 3 autonomous driving licenses to both Changan Automobile and BAIC. These licenses permit pure electric vehicles to drive autonomously within designated urban areas and on certain highway segments.
BYD, which leads global electric vehicle sales by volume, has targeted early 2025 to enhance advanced driver assistance technologies to support its commercial performance, aiming to integrate these systems into models priced below 100,000 yuan, equivalent to approximately $14,200.
However, intense market competition has prompted the company to revise its annual sales expectations, lowering its target to 4.6 million vehicles instead of the previous estimate of 5.5 million units.
