Gasgoo Munich-On July 1, Avatr Tech announced it had secured an L3 autonomous driving test license, with road testing for its vehicles now proceeding steadily as planned.
For now, Avatr will conduct on-road verification using Chongqing’s open public test routes. The company is simultaneously pushing ahead with reliability tests for road access, aiming to fine-tune the system for China’s complex road conditions and diverse traffic scenarios.
The company has launched a suite of compliance tests covering L3 function verification, functional safety, SOTIF (Safety of the Intended Functionality), regulatory compliance, and DSSAD data recording. This rigorous, multi-dimensional testing framework is designed to ensure the safe and compliant rollout of Avatr’s L3 technology.
Image Source: Avatr
With clearly defined Operational Design Domain (ODD) boundaries, Avatr’s L3 system targets stable and mature operation on highways and urban expressways, supporting speeds of up to 120 km/h.
The system handles high-frequency scenarios with ease, including automatic speed limit adjustments, cut-ins and cut-outs by other vehicles, tunnel navigation, intelligent lane changes, and automated ramp entry and exit. By covering core demands for highway and expressway travel, it significantly reduces driver fatigue, delivering a safer, easier, and more efficient driving experience.
Avatr says its L3 system is developed against the safety standards of professional drivers and includes a comprehensive emergency response mechanism. In extreme scenarios—such as driver takeover timeouts or incapacitation—the vehicle can autonomously execute a minimal risk strategy, smoothly pulling over to a safe stop to mitigate road hazards.
The system also features several human-centric safety configurations. When L3 is active, it automatically activates wipers, headlights, and defoggers based on weather conditions, ensuring clear visibility at all times.
Regarding public road compliance, the system accurately identifies emergency vehicles—such as police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances—and actively yields to them, balancing intelligent travel safety with public traffic order.
This licensing milestone is not an isolated event. On June 30, the Ministry of Public Security’s industry standard, "Safety Specification for Road Testing and Demonstration Application of Intelligent Connected Vehicles" (GA/T 2388-2026), took effect. It marks China’s first national road safety standard for L3-level and above autonomous driving, unifying access requirements and accident handling protocols.
