China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), along with three other government agencies, have recently disclosed their decision to authorize nine car manufacturers to conduct level 3 autonomous driving trials on restricted roads, as per a report by the Economic Daily News on June 5. This move aims to propel the adoption of autonomous driving technology in China and foster the refined development of the country's intelligent connected vehicle industry, thereby driving the integration of automotive, new energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and information and communication technology (ICT) industries.
The nine carmakers granted approval include BYD, Nio, Changan Automobile, GAC Motor, SAIC Motor, BAIC BluePark, FAW Group, SAIC Hongyan, and Zhengzhou Yutong. They are slated to test their level three autonomous driving systems. Presently, approximately ten automakers and suppliers, including Huawei and Xiaopeng Automotive Technology, offer Level 2 autonomous driving features in China. However, these features still necessitate drivers to maintain focus on the steering wheel.
In the realm of intelligent vehicles, Chinese automakers are primarily integrating large language models (LLMs) into smart cockpits through voice-controlled intelligent personal assistants, making AI personal assistants an indispensable feature in China's intelligent vehicles, according to the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC). MIC further noted that the incorporation of LLMs in intelligent vehicles is anticipated to fuel the demand for sensors. Consequently, the global sensor market volume is expected to reach 761.2 million units, with 58% of the contribution stemming from ultrasonic radars, followed by mmWave radars, surrounding cameras, ADAS/AD cameras, and LiDAR.