Volkswagen AG and Xpeng Inc. have received approval to test their autonomous-driving systems on public roads in China. The approvals signal a push by Chinese authorities to advance self-driving technology following a safety review.
Volkswagen’s China unit received a permit to conduct Level 3 autonomous-driving tests in Hefei, an eastern city.
Separately, Xpeng said it received approval for Level 4 robotaxi trial operations across Guangzhou, its home city. The approval moves the company closer to commercializing its autonomous ride-hailing service, Xpeng Yoyo, and allows it to shift from internal testing to real-world passenger trips, initially through invitation codes.