Volkswagen gets L3 autonomous driving test permit in China, eyes 2027

Volkswagen Group China has obtained a test permit for Level 3 autonomous driving on public roads in Hefei, marking a key step toward its goal of achieving L3 readiness by 2027. The permit allows for large-scale data collection and testing, and it is the latest in a series of steps to advance its autonomous driving technology. The permit was issued under China’s strictest L3 framework and meets the country’s latest mandatory safety design standards. The group says it runs simulation equal to 5 million km of safety testing per day, using about 30 million real-road scenario clips. The permit is not a product launch but a road test, and it is expected to be used for testing, not for selling L3 cars to customers.

VW’s China autonomy stack is built on CARIZON, its intelligent driving unit in China, which includes the Hyper Sense 8 (HS8) driver assistance system. The system is described as its first “full-scenario” ADAS, and it is supported by the GAIA 2.0 world model. The software is developed by VW and its partners, and it is designed to support up to Level 4 autonomy. The group also plans to develop its own system-on-chip, the C7H, which it says can support up to Level 4. Ralf Brandstätter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, emphasized the importance of safety and stated that the permit is an important step on the road to L3 readiness.

The permit is part of a broader strategy to catch up with Chinese brands in the autonomous driving space. While China has been serious about building a framework for automakers to bring L3 technology to market, not all automakers are interested. Companies like Tesla have been discussing skipping Level 3 and moving directly to Level 4. The permit is also part of a partnership between VW, CARIZON, and Horizon Robotics, which aims to deepen collaboration and target the start of L3 deliveries in the second half of 2027. VW’s L2++ system is rolling out on seven new NEV models from its Chinese joint ventures this year. The group also leans on XPeng in China, having bought a roughly 5% stake and co-developed its China zonal electrical architecture, CEA.

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