Volkswagen AG and Xpeng Inc secured approvals to trial autonomous driving systems on public roads in China, signalling a renewed push by authorities for larger-scale deployment following a safety review of the technology.
VW’s China unit said it’s started testing Level 3 technology in Hefei, with a target to deploy the system next year. Meanwhile, Xpeng said its robotaxi business received approval to carry out Level 4 testing across Guangzhou, with access initially offered through invitation codes before being expanded gradually.
The approvals add to signs that regulators have moved past a high-profile incident earlier this year involving Baidu Inc self-driving vehicles in Wuhan. The fallout saw China suspend new robotaxi licenses in April and launch an industrywide safety review.
Bloomberg News reported in July that approvals had resumed, with Momenta Global Ltd receiving one of the first permits. But few other companies have publicly announced that they’ve received the green light to run trials.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which oversees the sector, didn’t respond to a fax request for comment on the latest approvals.
China is trying to strike a balance between commercial expansion of transformative auto technology and the risk to public safety. Regulators have already overhauled standards on door handles, advanced driver-assistance technology, batteries and lights. – Bloomberg
