NEWS

Volkswagen Group China has received a Level 3 autonomous driving road test permit in Hefei, China. The permit authorizes real-world on-road testing and large-scale data collection. It was granted under the toughest L3 regulatory framework yet, with the latest safety design mandates. Testing has already started. 

The permit is the next step on the road to Level 3 readiness, which Volkswagen is targeting for 2027.

Background

-Volkswagen Group China's first in-house full-scenario L2++ driver assistance system, Hyper Sense 8, was developed through its local intelligent driving center CARIZON.

-AI is part of development from the start. The Group's in-house AI world model, GAIA 2.0, runs ADAS safety simulations every day that are equivalent to five million kilometers of driving, drawing on up to 30 million driving scenario clips.

-The system is targeting the equivalent of 10 million kilometers of training data per day for Level 3, so that rare and unexpected situations are learnt before a customer meets them on the road.

-Volkswagen is also developing its own L4-ready system-on-chip, the C7H.

Quote

"At Volkswagen, safety and reliability come first in autonomous driving. Technological progress must never come at the expense of safety. Our ambition is to combine innovation with the highest safety and quality standards to build trust in new technologies. With this permit, we can test in real traffic in Hefei and collect data at scale. It is the next step on our road to Level 3 readiness."

Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of Volkswagen Group China

Volkswagen Group China will present its latest technology at its first Tech Day in Hefei on October 28, 2026. Further information will follow on that day.