HEFEI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- German automaker Volkswagen has started testing Level 3 autonomous driving technology on public roads in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, after obtaining a road test permit, Volkswagen Group China announced on Monday.
The permit authorizes real-world on-road testing and large-scale data collection. Volkswagen aims to have its Level 3 autonomous driving technology ready by 2027.
"At Volkswagen, safety and reliability come first in autonomous driving. With this permit, we can test in real traffic in Hefei and collect data at scale. It is the next step on our road to Level 3 readiness," said Ralf Brandstätter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.
Level 3, or conditional driving automation, allows vehicles to perform dynamic automated driving tasks while requiring a human driver to remain available to take control when requested.
Volkswagen has been developing its autonomous driving technology in China through CARIZON, a joint venture between its software subsidiary CARIAD and Chinese technology company Horizon Robotics. (....)