BUSINESS

Zeekr Unveils Plan for L3 Autonomous Driving in Upcoming 9X Model

Published: Jul. 11, 2025 3:42 a.m. GMT+8

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A Zeekr’s electric vehicle displayed at the International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo in Hong Kong on June 12, 2025.

Zeekr, the Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker, announced on Wednesday night that its upcoming model, the Zeekr 9X, will feature an autonomous driving system designed to meet Level 3 (L3) capabilities — a bold step toward full self-driving technology.

The announcement came during a technology showcase hosted by Zeekr, where Geely Holding’s Chief Scientist of Intelligent Driving, Chen Qi — who also serves as Zeekr’s vice president — detailed the company’s strategy to develop and implement L3-level autonomy.

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Zeekr announced its Zeekr 9X model will feature Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving, shifting responsibility from driver to system under certain conditions.
Most current vehicles offer only Level 2; mass L3 highway adoption in China is projected between 2025–2027, with urban expansion by 2026–2028.
The transition requires regulatory alignment, higher technical complexity, and is unlikely to see full commercialization this year.

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Who’s Who

Zeekr: Zeekr, a Chinese EV manufacturer, plans to equip its upcoming Zeekr 9X model with Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capabilities. This significant step shifts control from the driver to the system under specific conditions, requiring redundant backup systems for safety. Zeekr notes that regulatory alignment and risk coverage are crucial for large-scale L3 deployment, which is not expected to be fully commercialized this year.

Geely Holding: Geely Holding's Chief Scientist of Intelligent Driving, Chen Qi, is also Zeekr's vice president. Zeekr, an electric vehicle maker, is aiming to implement Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities in its upcoming Zeekr 9X model.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is among the industry leaders vying to achieve Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capabilities. They aim to launch their L3-ready ADS 4.0 system for highway use by the end of 2025. Huawei also co-published a white paper with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center and Tsinghua University, outlining a phased roadmap for L3 deployment, with large-scale L3 adoption on highways projected between 2025 and 2027.

XPeng Inc.: XPeng Inc. is an industry leader in China's electric vehicle (EV) market. The company is actively racing to achieve Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capabilities for its vehicles. Most mass-production vehicles currently offer Level 2 systems, but XPeng is among those pushing towards more advanced self-driving technology.

Li Auto Inc.: Li Auto Inc. is an industry leader in China's electric vehicle market, actively competing to achieve Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capabilities. This would mark a significant technological and legal shift, as control and potential liability transfer from the driver to the vehicle's system under specific conditions.

Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd.: Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd. (GAC) is a state-owned Chinese carmaker. GAC is actively competing with other industry leaders like Huawei, XPeng Inc., and Li Auto Inc. to develop and implement Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capabilities in their vehicles.

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