AsianFin -- Chinese automakers Zeekr Group and Xpeng announced on Tuesday that they will begin selling electric vehicles equipped with advanced autonomous driving technology, allowing drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. This move signals a significant escalation in the smart driving technology race.
Alongside Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC), the companies separately revealed plans to introduce models with L3-ready autonomous driving capabilities, marking a notable shift for the industry, which has primarily relied on L2 systems until now.
Zeekr stated that it will officially unveil its 9X sport utility vehicle featuring this technology at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, with deliveries set to begin in the second half of 2025. During a post-earnings analyst call, Xpeng announced that it will achieve L3-level software capabilities in the second half of this year and plans to mass-produce models with L4-ready technology by 2026.
Meanwhile, GAC revealed at a company event that it will start selling L3-ready models in 2025 and is also developing L4 models, according to local media reports. These developments underscore the growing focus on autonomous driving technology among Chinese automakers as they vie for leadership in the rapidly evolving EV market.
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