PVs with L2 features account for 23.2% of new vehicle market in China in Q1

Beijing (Gasgoo)- In the first quarter of 2022, passenger vehicles featuring L2 autonomous driving functions accounted for 23.2% of China’s new-vehicle market, according to a report released by International Data Corporation. 

Photo credit: NIO

Among the new energy vehicle (NEV) market, L2 autonomous driving NEVs held 35% of the market. Meanwhile, L2-functioned gasoline vehicles accounted for 19.9% of the new gasoline car market. 

In the L2 autonomous driving market, 67.2% were gasoline cars from Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and others. Among the rest 32.8% of NEVs, 10.9% were from traditional automakers, including BYD, GAC AION, and Volkswagen. New energy vehicle startups such as Tesla, NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng held the other 21.9%. 

Among all automakers in China, Toyota had the most elaborate layout of L2 autonomous driving functions. Within its massive product portfolio, almost all models priced at RMB100,000 and up ($15,259) were equipped with L2 functions, with an exception of several entry-level models. 

Different from Toyota’s safety-oriented position, Great Wall Motor’s L2 autonomous functions leaned towards the technological side. The Chinese automaker was more inclined to use the said technologies to ramp up its brand image. 

In the new energy vehicle market, BYD, who has recently renounced oil-fueled vehicles, broadly deployed L2 autonomous functions onto its higher-end models, such as the Han and Tang dynasty series. 

As to NEV startups, Li Auto’s vehicles come standard with L2 autonomous driving functions. The high-end trims of NIO’s vehicles also come standard with the functions, while the lower-level trims see the functions as add-ons, whereas XPeng only deployed L2 functions onto its premium-level trims.