Changan's Deepal begins pilot with 46 Level 3 autonomous cars in Chongqing, focusing on safety and regulatory assessments.
Deepal, the new-energy vehicle division of state-owned Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., has launched a pilot program featuring a fleet of 46 cars equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving systems in Chongqing, as reported by Caixin.
While these vehicles are operational, they are not available for sale to individual consumers. Deepal's chairman, Deng Chenghao, emphasized that Level 3 technology, which requires drivers to remain ready to take control, is still in an exploratory phase.
Consequently, the fleet will be operated exclusively by certified professionals rather than the general public. This pilot program is seen as a crucial test for regulators and manufacturers to evaluate safety and liability frameworks before the broader commercial deployment of conditional automation.
