On December 20, 2025, in Chongqing, China, the first official L3-level autonomous driving license plate '渝AD0001Z' was issued and mounted on a Deepal (Deep Blue) vehicle from Changan Automobile. This milestone marks China's entry into the L3 autonomous driving era, enabling compliant, real-world deployment of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). Deepal, backed by Changan's 'Tian Shu Intelligent' tech stack, is now poised for urban road testing, data accumulation, and mass-market rollout, amid surging sales and global expansion.
Deepal's L3 Breakthrough: Tech and Safety First
Deepal's achievement stems from its integration with Changan's 'Tian Shu Intelligent Driving Assistance' system, featuring:
- Superior perception and safety: Global-leading CA-TVS verification, national lab-backed closed-loop safety management.
- Night vision and AEB prowess: Handles extreme darkness/weather, AEB up to 135 km/h, first-in-industry collision avoidance for delivery riders.
Leveraging Changan's resources, Deepal benefits from:
- A 3,000+ engineer team for full-stack development (hardware, OS, AI).
- 15 EFlops cloud computing for 'Tian Shu large model' iterations.
- Over 10 billion km of real-world driving data for continuous optimization.
From 2023 L3 test license to 2025 full plate, Deepal will now pilot in congested urban roads, testing add-cut-ins, sudden braking, and handover reliability.
Impressive Market Momentum and Global Reach
Deepal's tech translates to sales dominance:
- 2025 Jan-Nov: Sales up 45.7% YoY, outpacing industry; 3+ months of 30,000+ monthly units.
- Cumulative deliveries: Over 700,000 vehicles.
Key models cover 150,000-300,000 RMB segment:
| Model | Highlights | Global Sales Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| S07 | Huawei Kunpeng 630km range edition | 300,000+ units, global hit |
| S05 | Compact SUV | 6 months of 10,000+ global/mo |
| S09, L06 | Mid-large sedans/SUVs | Core domestic volume drivers |
Present in nearly 100 countries, Deepal eyes 2025 highway/rapid road navigation rollout and 2026 full-scenario assistance.
Global Context: China Leads as West Faces Headwinds
Deepal's L3 win underscores China's EV edge. While Elon Musk's net worth hit $749 billion via Tesla's restored $139B compensation (Dec 2025), Western OEMs stumble:
- Volkswagen pauses 2026 ID.Buzz U.S. launch due to EV demand slump.
- BMW recalls 36,922 U.S. vehicles for steering glitches; Ford 272,645 for parking failures.
Contrast with Japan: Honda plans 2027 electric N-Box (2024 Japan sales champ, 200k+ units). Polestar secures $300M financing post-GEELY deal.
Why This Matters: Reshaping the Global EV Landscape
Deepal's L3 plate validates China's data-driven, vertically integrated approach, challenging Tesla's FSD and Waymo. With 700k deliveries and overseas traction, it accelerates L3 adoption in dense urban markets. Globally, it pressures laggards like VW/Ford amid recalls and demand woes, while Honda's micro-EV hints at diversified paths.
Looking Ahead: Full Autonomy by 2026?
Deepal's roadmap promises widespread L3 by 2026, fueled by real-road data from pilots. As Changan's export engine, expect intensified competition in Europe/Asia. Watch for S07's global surge and L3 exports—China's EV intellect could redefine autonomous mobility worldwide.
