On June 4, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) granted approval to the first batch of Chinese automakers to test intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) on public roads. GAC Group obtained the permit to carry out on-road operation pilot of ICVs, becoming the first group of auto companies in China to test level 3 autonomous driving systems on public roads.

 

GAC becomes one of China's first automakers to test intelligent connect vehicles on public roads

 

Level-3 intelligent driving is considered to be the watershed between assisted driving and autonomous driving. Once above level 3, the autonomous driving system takes over control of the driving, which allows drivers to completely release their hands and take their eyes off the road. There is no need for the driver to constantly pay attention to vehicle operation. This scenario requires carmakers to have qualified intelligent driving technology, reliable underlying architecture and risk management capabilities.

 

In November 2023, Notice on Initiating the Pilot Program for Intelligent Connected Vehicles Access and On-Road Operation was jointly issued by MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Transportation, with the aim to select ICVs equipped with autonomous driving functions and qualified for mass production to conduct road trials, so as to enhance the function and performance of ICVs, optimize industrial ecology, and to facilitate the high-quality development of China's intelligent connected new energy auto industry.
    

With GAC R&D Center as the main platform of research and development, GAC Motor and AION as the vehicle providers, and ONTIME as the service platform, GAC Group has integrated technology R&D, manufacturing, operation functions. With such a powerful combination, GAC has met all the requirements for the access to and on-road driving in pilot cities of ICVs, passed rounds of selection, and eventually stood out from more than a dozen competitors nationwide, being approved to join the pilot program to test its ICVs.

 

Guangzhou, one of the earliest cities in China to develop autonomous driving, has opened up a wealth of test roads, providing a favorable environment for road testing and application demonstration operations of ICVs.

 

As a core technology of ICVs, autonomous driving is also an important part of intelligent transportation, so it is necessary to promote the commercialization of autonomous driving for developing new quality productive forces and achieving high-quality development. In addition, the technology is also the critical driving force for China's transformation to an automobiles powerhouse. Based on Guangzhou and facing the Greater Bay Area, GAC will continue to boost investment in R&D of intelligent connectivity technology with continuous validation of its products and technology, so as to develop the intelligent connectivity industry chain, and contribute GAC's strength to the large-scale commercial application of autonomous driving in China.