Gasgoo Munich- Guangdong's top economic planner has rolled out a new strategy to spur consumption. The blueprint calls for stronger support for intelligent connected vehicles, urging automakers to seek regulatory approval for Level 3 autonomous driving models and on-road trials. It also maps out a phased rollout of smart-driving tests and commercial operations across the Greater Bay Area.
Image credit: Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission
The move follows a national-level expansion of L3 pilot programs, marking yet another clear show of local support for putting advanced driver-assistance systems on the road. While several Guangdong cities already host road tests for smart vehicles, writing L3 access into a provincial consumption plan signals a deliberate policy push to accelerate the technology's real-world rollout.
A September study by the Guangdong government's development research center recommended broadening those L3 trials. The report urged mutual recognition of testing standards, results, and licenses across six cities in the Golden Inner Bay — before extending that framework to the entire Pearl River Delta and, eventually, the whole province. The goal: create China's largest testing zone for complex traffic conditions.
Several Chinese cities already run L3 road tests, yet only a handful of models and companies have secured formal L3 access. By pushing automakers to pursue that approval, Guangdong is positioning the Greater Bay Area as an early mover for commercializing advanced smart-driving technology.
Guangdong is home to top EV makers like BYD and XPENG, alongside tech heavyweights such as Huawei and Tencent, giving it a complete supply chain. Advancing L3 pilot programs will speed up the deployment of intelligent connected vehicle tech across the Pearl River Delta — and, in turn, drive related consumer spending. With Beijing, Shanghai, and Wuhan already running similar road tests, Guangdong's entry further expands the footprint of China's commercial smart-driving trials.
