Gasgoo Munich- Jin Yuzhi, a senior vice president at Huawei and CEO of Yinwang, recently reiterated his vision for the evolution of autonomous driving. The industry, he argued, shouldn't attempt to leapfrog directly from Level 2 to Level 4. L3 serves as the critical bridge between driver assistance and full autonomy—a stage that cannot be bypassed in terms of either technical or industrial logic.
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According to Jin, L3 and L4 are not mutually exclusive but rather distinct milestones on the same trajectory toward fully autonomous driving. He emphasized that the transition from L2 to L3 represents a fundamental shift: liability transfers from the driver to the automaker or provider of the autonomous system, effectively redefining the nature of driving from "assisted" to "automated." This shift requires more than just technical breakthroughs; it demands a supporting legal framework and time for users to adapt. Consequently, a transitional phase is essential to drive this progress forward.
Jin had previously voiced similar sentiments at this year’s Intelligent Electric Vehicle Development High-Level Forum, stating that L3 is the unavoidable gateway to L4 and L5. He further explained that bypassing L3 isn't feasible—not only because current technology cannot yet support fully unmanned driving, but also because safety validation systems, public perception, and regulatory frameworks all require time to mature.
On the policy front, China is making orderly progress toward admitting conditional autonomous vehicles (L3). The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology approved two L3 models for road pilots in 2025. Under current plans, 2026 will see the phased rollout of approvals and road access for additional L3 models, with the relevant regulatory framework gradually taking shape.
Jin’s latest comments clarify Huawei Qiankun’s stance on the evolution of autonomous driving: the company favors a gradual rollout of technology rather than a sudden, leapfrog advancement. As the policy window for L3 begins to open, industry discussions regarding liability definition, safety standards, and user acceptance are expected to intensify.
