BYD Claims First to Have Chinese L3 Driverless Test License
Chinese automaker ramps up domestic rivalry in driverless technology.
![BYD BEV BYD BEV](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt7121b6ec5c11097b/bltb95ca7b17b9ad991/66194c8c97122f0b40170487/BYDBEV_0.jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale)
In response to BMW’s granting of a license in December to test Level 3 autonomous driving technology in China, BYD says it was the first automaker to get such a license back in July.
In a classic case of corporate one-upmanship, the Chinese brand, currently trying to expand in European markets, makes the claim in its official account on the social media site Weibo. Its statement reads: “In July, BYD Group obtained the country's first high-speed highway conditional autonomous driving (L3 level) test license and continued to promote the research and development of intelligent technology to provide users with a safe and reliable smart travel experience.”
BMW announced earlier this month that it had received an extension to its Level 3 testing license to take in more of Shanghai’s road network, while Mercedes-Benz said it would carry out L3 tests on designated highways in Beijing.
Reuters also reports that IM Motors, the battery-electric brand of state-owned Chinese automaker SAIC Motor, wants to benefit from China’s accelerated regulatory approach to driverless technology, saying it is applying to the nation’s industry ministry for product entry of Level 3 cars.
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