HANGZHOU, China, March 18- Zeekr Group and Xpeng announced on Tuesday that they will soon begin selling electric vehicles (EVs) featuring advanced technology, allowing drivers to take their hands off the wheel. This marks a new chapter in the growing competition within smart driving technology.
Both companies, along with Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), revealed their plans to launch vehicles with L3-ready autonomous driving systems. This is a significant move for the industry, which has so far only seen L2 systems.
Zeekr confirmed that it would debut its 9X sport utility vehicle with L3 technology at the Shanghai Auto Show in April. Deliveries are expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Xpeng, during a post-earnings call, shared that it would achieve L3-level software capabilities by the latter half of this year and plans to begin mass production of L4-ready vehicles by 2026.
GAC also made an announcement, stating that it would start selling L3-ready vehicles in 2025, with plans for L4 models in development.
Autonomous driving is categorized into five levels, with level one being basic cruise control and level five representing fully autonomous driving. Level three, which these companies are aiming for, allows vehicles to drive without the driver’s supervision. In practice, this means drivers can take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road for extended periods, but they must be ready to take control if necessary.
Currently, level three technology is still in the testing phase globally. In June, China approved nine automakers, including BYD and Nio, as well as state-owned manufacturers like Changan Automobile and GAC, to conduct public road tests for level three vehicles. For these cars to be sold and operated commercially, they will need approval from regulators.
The announcement comes amid a shifting landscape in China’s automotive market, which is undergoing a shift from a price war to a tech-focused competition. Smart driving systems were once considered a luxury, but last month, BYD announced it would offer these systems across most of its lineup at no extra cost, prompting other companies to follow suit.
Under Chinese law, automakers are legally responsible for accidents caused by failures in level three systems. Drivers of cars with level two systems, such as Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, are still required to remain attentive and ready to take control.
Zeekr’s CEO revealed that the 9X SUV would feature five lidars and a driving domain controller powered by two Nvidia Thor chips. While these features are expected to significantly raise production costs, CEO Andy An emphasized their importance to ensure the safety of level three systems.
