OEM Autonomous Driving Research: Successive Launch of L2 Models on Market, Foreign Plan for Mass Production of L4 Models Earlier Than China
I. L2/L2+ models are successively available on the market
Over years of rapid growth, mainstream OEMs have spawned L2 ADAS systems and upgraded related functions, equipping their vehicles with core capabilities e.g., ACC, lane keeping assist (LKA)/lane centering assist (LCA), active steering (under driver’s confirmation) and traffic sign recognition, at all speeds. Deep fusion of these capabilities is of the essence for mass production.
In China, installation rate of L2 ADAS was 10.6% in the first four months of 2020, 5.4 percentage points higher than in 2019. China has achieved initial success in development of ADAS/AD technology. Foreign brands like Volvo and Toyota, and new homegrown brands such as Lynk & Co, WEY, Geometry and EXEED stay ahead in installation.
II. L3 is expecting policy incentives
L3 automated driving is challenged as concerns technology and regulations. OEMs have mixed attitudes towards it:
South Korea has been the first one to release L3 standards: Hyundai is expected to make headway in market;
Europe and the US have yet to loosen their policies: Audi slows its pace of commercializing L3;
China’s policy still remains unclear but OEMs calls for it: GAC and Changan Automobile already gear up for mass production; Geely and Chery will follow up at any time.
The released L3 solutions integrated with LiDAR and HD map, allow for hands-off steering wheel in the scenarios of highways and city fast roads but require good road conditions, e.g., physical road dividing lines and clear lane lines.
III. Foreign plan for mass-production of L4 models is earlier than China
European and American OEMs stay ahead of others in L4 development; Mercedes-Benz and GM have carried out L4 pilot projects; BWM, VW and Audi have unveiled implementation plans in details;
Korean and Japanese OEMs begin to seek external collaborations for faster launch of L4. Examples include Hyundai’s cooperation with Pony.ai and Honda’s partnership with GM Cruise. Toyota originally planned to roll out L4 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games but the COVID-19 pandemic makes the plan uncertain;
Chinese OEMs see L4 as a long-term plan. Only few of them, like Changan Automobile and FAW Hongqi are attempting at L4 tests.
In late June 2020, Volvo and Waymo announced that Waymo becomes “the exclusive global L4 partner for Volvo”. Volvo will leverage Waymo autonomous driving technology to build electric robotaxi and equip its two sub-brands Polestar and Lynk & Co. With the help of Waymo, Volvo is hopeful to be one of the first-movers in L4 camp.
In 2020, autonomous driving bellwethers secure enormous investments and leading automakers seize more of the market. Third or fourth-tier auto manufacturers go bankrupt at a faster pace. The ultrahigh technical barriers of autonomous driving encourage the survival of the fittest among OEMS.
End-to-End Autonomous Driving Research Report, 2025
End-to-End Autonomous Driving Research: E2E Evolution towards the VLA Paradigm via Synergy of Reinforcement Learning and World Models??The essence of end-to-end autonomous driving lies in mimicking dr...
Research Report on OEMs and Tier1s’ Intelligent Cockpit Platforms (Hardware & Software) and Supply Chain Construction Strategies, 2025
Research on intelligent cockpit platforms: in the first year of mass production of L3 AI cockpits, the supply chain accelerates deployment of new products
An intelligent cockpit platform primarily r...
Automotive EMS and ECU Industry Report, 2025
Research on automotive EMS: Analysis on the incremental logic of more than 40 types of automotive ECUs and EMS market segments
In this report, we divide automotive ECUs into five major categories (in...
Automotive Intelligent Cockpit SoC Research Report, 2025
Cockpit SoC research: The localization rate exceeds 10%, and AI-oriented cockpit SoC will become the mainstream in the next 2-3 years
In the Chinese automotive intelligent cockpit SoC market, althoug...
Auto Shanghai 2025 Summary Report
The post-show summary report of 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, which mainly includes three parts: the exhibition introduction, OEM, and suppliers. Among them, OEM includes the introduction of models a...
Automotive Operating System and AIOS Integration Research Report, 2025
Research on automotive AI operating system (AIOS): from AI application and AI-driven to AI-native
Automotive Operating System and AIOS Integration Research Report, 2025, released by ResearchInChina, ...
Software-Defined Vehicles in 2025: OEM Software Development and Supply Chain Deployment Strategy Research Report
SDV Research: OEM software development and supply chain deployment strategies from 48 dimensions
The overall framework of software-defined vehicles: (1) Application software layer: cockpit software, ...
Research Report on Automotive Memory Chip Industry and Its Impact on Foundation Models, 2025
Research on automotive memory chips: driven by foundation models, performance requirements and costs of automotive memory chips are greatly improved.
From 2D+CNN small models to BEV+Transformer found...
48V Low-voltage Power Distribution Network (PDN) Architecture and Supply Chain Panorama Research Report, 2025
For a long time, the 48V low-voltage PDN architecture has been dominated by 48V mild hybrids. The electrical topology of 48V mild hybrids is relatively outdated, and Chinese OEMs have not given it suf...
Research Report on Overseas Cockpit Configuration and Supply Chain of Key Models, 2025
Overseas Cockpit Research: Tariffs stir up the global automotive market, and intelligent cockpits promote automobile exports
ResearchInChina has released the Research Report on Overseas Cockpit Co...
Automotive Display, Center Console and Cluster Industry Report, 2025
In addition to cockpit interaction, automotive display is another important carrier of the intelligent cockpit. In recent years, the intelligence level of cockpits has continued to improve, and automo...
Vehicle Functional Safety and Safety Of The Intended Functionality (SOTIF) Research Report, 2025
Functional safety research: under the "equal rights for intelligent driving", safety of the intended functionality (SOTIF) design is crucial
As Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturers propose "Equal...
Chinese OEMs’ AI-Defined Vehicle Strategy Research Report, 2025
AI-Defined Vehicle Report: How AI Reshapes Vehicle Intelligence?
Chinese OEMs’ AI-Defined Vehicle Strategy Research Report, 2025, released by ResearchInChina, studies, analyzes, and summarizes the c...
Automotive Digital Key (UWB, NearLink, and BLE 6.0) Industry Trend Report, 2025
Digital key research: which will dominate digital keys, growing UWB, emerging NearLink or promising Bluetooth 6.0?ResearchInChina has analyzed and predicted the digital key market, communication techn...
Integrated Battery (CTP, CTB, CTC, and CTV) and Battery Innovation Technology Report, 2025
Power battery research: 17 vehicle models use integrated batteries, and 34 battery innovation technologies are released
ResearchInChina released Integrated Battery (CTP, CTB, CTC, and CTV)and Battery...
AI/AR Glasses Industry Research Report, 2025
ResearchInChina released the " AI/AR Glasses Industry Research Report, 2025", which deeply explores the field of AI smart glasses, sorts out product R&D and ecological layout of leading domestic a...
Global and China Passenger Car T-Box Market Report 2025
T-Box Research: T-Box will achieve functional upgrades given the demand from CVIS and end-to-end autonomous driving
ResearchInChina released the "Global and China Passenger Car T-Box Market Report 20...
Automotive Microcontroller Unit (MCU) Industry Report, 2025
Research on automotive MCUs: the independent, controllable supply chain for automotive MCUs is rapidly maturing
Mid-to-high-end MCUs for intelligent vehicle control are a key focus of domestic produc...