Three automotive companies in Ningbo, Zhejiang province received the "Ningbo Intelligent Connected Vehicle Road Testing Notification" jointly issued by four local departments on June 25, which opens the door for innovative trials and advancements in smart connected cars.

According to Lin Yang, deputy director of the Ningbo Transportation Development Research Center, each company has unique requirements for their road testing programs. These requirements encompass factors such as the number of vehicles involved, designated testing areas, driver regulations, testing schedules, and specific project objectives tailored to each testing entity.

Zeekr's autonomous vehicles operate at level 3 automation, enabling conditional autonomous driving at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour during testing. While safety personnel are required to be present in the driver’s seat during road tests, the vehicles are capable of operating the steering wheel hands-free.

Senior's approved fleet consists of unmanned container trucks operating at level 4 automation, signifying advanced automated driving capabilities. These trucks will navigate within the Ningbo Zhoushan Port’s Daxie Port Area, utilizing high-precision mapping and sensor fusion technologies to autonomously plan routes and achieve precise positioning.

Neolix's autonomous vehicles also operate at level 4 automation. These vehicles are designated for last-mile deliveries in SF Express, with a loading capacity of 3 cubic meters, a maximum load capacity of 500 kilograms, a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour, and a range of 200 kilometers on a full charge.

Lin highlights the progress made in establishing a legal framework for autonomous driving vehicles on public roads in China over the past two years. National and local policies provide solid support for compliant operation of autonomous vehicles, signaling positive developments for the intelligent connected vehicle industry.

Moving forward, the collaborative task force overseeing intelligent connected vehicle road testing and demonstration applications in Ningbo aims to accelerate the development of policies and standards supporting intelligent connected vehicles.

Local authorities plan to explore additional application scenarios, expedite their implementation, and strengthen industry operation and regulation models to establish a unique intelligent connected vehicle model in Ningbo.