China's L3 Autonomous EVs Approved: Changan, Zeekr Lead Charge

China's electric vehicle industry just hit a major milestone on December 15, 2025, as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) granted the first-ever L3-level (conditional autonomous driving) vehicle access permits. Changan and Zeekr (via parent North汽 Blue Valley) emerged as pioneers, with their pure EV models approved for pilot testing in Beijing and Chongqing. This breakthrough shifts L3 tech from labs to roads, blending with fresh launches like GWM's affordable Ora 5 EV crossover, signaling China's EV dominance.

First L3 Autonomous EVs Hit Chinese Roads with Strict Limits

The MIIT's 401st batch of vehicle announcements included two groundbreaking models:

• Changan SC7000AAARBEV: A pure electric sedan with Changan's in-house L3 system. Approved for congested highways and urban expressways in Chongqing at speeds up to 50 km/h (single lane).
• Zeekr BJ7001A61NBEV (Alpha S6): High-end EV with Huawei's ADS 3.3 intelligent driving suite. Cleared for highways and urban expressways in Beijing at up to 80 km/h (single lane).

These aren't consumer cars yet—they operate in a "quasi-Robotaxi" mode via partnerships:

• Changan teams with Chongqing Changan CarLink Technology.
• Zeekr partners with Beijing出行 Auto Services.

Both require safety drivers, emphasizing L3's core: hands-off, eyes-off driving in defined conditions, with humans ready to intervene. This follows years of policy groundwork, from 2022 draft notices to 2023's multi-ministry pilot framework and 2024's selection of 9 OEMs (including BYD, NIO, XPeng).

Ora 5 EV Crossover: GWM's Affordable Reboot at $14K

Amid the autonomy buzz, Great Wall Motor (GWM) relaunched its Ora brand on December 16 with the Ora 5, a 4.4m urban crossover starting at 99,800 yuan ($14,160)—no discounts needed in China's cutthroat EV market.

Key specs:

• Powertrain: 150 kW (201 hp) single e-motor; SVOLT LFP batteries (45.3/58.3 kWh).
• Range: Up to 580 km CLTC (top trim).
• Features: 15.6-inch touchscreen with Coffee OS 3, LiDAR on top trims, voice control, wireless charging.
• Future Variants: HEV (1.5T + e-motor, 179 kW), PHEV, and ICE (1.5L, 130 kW) incoming.

Ora's reboot addresses past woes—38.71% YoY sales drop to 27,958 units (Jan-Nov 2025)—by diversifying beyond BEVs. Its cute, Funky Cat-inspired design targets young urban buyers.

Why This Matters: Global Implications for EV and Autonomy Race

China's L3 approvals aren't isolated—they cap a 3-year regulatory sprint, prioritizing B2B fleets for safety and data collection. Expect expanded pilots to cities/main roads, new standards for data security, and cost wars as firms like BYD, NIO, and XPeng scale up. Ora 5 underscores hybridization's rise, countering pure-EV price wars.

Globally, this pressures Tesla (whose stock rose 3% amid US market dips) and Waymo: China's pilots could validate L3 faster, exporting tech via Zeekr/Huawei stacks. With Ora undercutting rivals at $14K, Western markets face import floods.

What's Next for Chinese EVs?

Changan and Zeekr pilots will yield real-world data by mid-2026, potentially greenlighting consumer L3s. Ora 5's multi-powertrain strategy may boost GWM's NEV share. Watch for BYD/NIO entries and export surges—China's EV ecosystem is redefining mobility worldwide.