China’s EV Makers Rev Up Efforts to Outpace Tesla in the Autonomous Driving Showdown: A Million L3 Vehicles Expected by 2026

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are ramping up their efforts to surpass Tesla in the self-driving car competition. They are focusing on incorporating L3 systems into a million vehicles by 2026, even amid potential regulatory challenges.

The competition to dominate the self-driving vehicle market is intensifying in mainland China, as leading electric car producers accelerate the design of vehicles with sophisticated driver support systems to attract consumers.

The attempt to create smart cars in the biggest auto market worldwide poses a challenge to Tesla's status as a top player in autonomous driving, according to experts.

"Initial self-driving technologies have become the latest competitive space for electric vehicle manufacturers in China as they boost sales and heighten brand visibility," stated Phate Zhang, the creator of the Shanghai-based electric vehicle data company, CnEVPost. "Top contenders agree that outfitting their vehicles with superior hardware and software is essential to stay competitive in this rapidly expanding market."

Research firm Counterpoint Research predicted in an early report this year that approximately 1 million Electric Vehicles (EVs) in China are expected to achieve Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capabilities by 2026. It also highlighted that Chinese automakers will maintain a significant global influence in the design and production of autonomous vehicles.

A standard L3 vehicle possesses the ability to detect its surroundings and make calculated choices, like overtaking a slower vehicle, as per the guidelines for self-driving cars established by SAE International, a US-based organization. However, in specific situations, the driver's intervention is still necessary.