Autonomous Driving Enters “Huawei Time”: L3 Commercialization Expected Next Year, L4 the Year After!

Recently, Li Wenguang, President of Huawei’s Intelligent Driving Solutions Product Line, unveiled the company’s roadmap for advancing intelligent driving technology:
In 2025, focus on pilot commercialization of conditional L3 autonomous driving and initiate L4 testing in urban scenarios;
In 2026, promote large-scale commercial use of highway L3 and urban L4 pilots;
In 2027, push for large-scale urban L4 commercialization and pilot unmanned trunk logistics;
Ultimately, achieve commercial deployment of unmanned trunk logistics by 2028!

1. Technological Breakthrough and Commercialization Turning Point

Huawei’s plan is not just a technological breakthrough but also a critical turning point in the commercialization of autonomous driving. Currently, the industry mostly remains at the L2+ assisted driving stage, while Huawei is clearly moving towards the L3/L4 era.
L3 autonomous driving means vehicles can drive autonomously under specific conditions, reducing driver workload; L4 goes further, enabling autonomous operation in most scenarios without human intervention.
Huawei plans phased implementation to gradually validate and optimize technologies, ultimately achieving large-scale commercialization, which will greatly promote the popularization and application of autonomous driving technology.

2. Supporting Technology Foundation: ADS 4.0 Intelligent Driving System

Supporting Huawei’s ambition is its upcoming ADS 4.0 intelligent driving system. The system will start equipping flagship models like the Junjie S800 in Q3 2025.
ADS 4.0 integrates advanced sensors such as LiDAR and high-precision maps, combined with deep learning algorithms, to achieve precise perception and decision-making in complex environments.

Jin Yuzhi, CEO of Huawei Intelligent Automotive Solutions BU, said that L3 autonomous driving is a trend, and Huawei already possesses L3 capabilities—the question is only when commercial deployment happens.
The launch of ADS 4.0 will undoubtedly further solidify Huawei’s technological leadership in autonomous driving and become an industry watershed.

3. Industry Restructuring: How Huawei is Changing the Game

3.1 Industry Competition:

Tesla, as the benchmark for pure vision-based systems, leads in road perception and control precision with its FSD system. However, Li Wenguang emphasized Huawei’s focus on “safety net”—while L2-level functions can be realized through pure vision, L3 and above require sensor fusion including cameras and radar to handle complex scenarios.
L4 autonomous driving exponentially increases safety requirements. Huawei’s multi-sensor solution aims to seize the technological high ground through differentiated competition.

3.2 Industry Chain Boost:
The commercialization of Huawei’s QianKun Intelligent Driving ADS4 system will stimulate upstream sensor and chip suppliers. The ADS Ultra flagship version already supports highway L3 and valet parking functions. Its widespread adoption will promote the prosperity of related industrial chains. Analysts predict that with ADS 4 scaling up in vehicles, companies like Ofilm, Desay SV, and Huayang Group’s intelligent automotive business are expected to achieve rapid growth in 2025.

3.3 Policy Coordination and Market Push:
China’s 2022 implementation of the “Automotive Driving Automation Classification” standard paves the way for L3 commercialization. Huawei’s roadmap will accelerate related regulatory improvements.
Meanwhile, market demand for high-level autonomous driving is propelling industry growth. It is forecasted that urban intelligent assisted driving installations will reach 3.94 million vehicles in 2025, surge to 8.25 million in 2026, and exceed 14.96 million in 2027.

4. Breakthrough and Restructuring — China’s Answer to Intelligent Driving

Huawei’s autonomous driving timeline essentially represents a “breakthrough battle” for technological sovereignty and industrial discourse power.
When large-scale urban L4 commercialization is realized in 2027, it will mark a qualitative leap from autonomous driving being “available” to “well-functioning,” and signify China’s intelligent automotive industry transforming from a technology follower into a rule maker.

However, many obstacles remain: breakthroughs in active safety, significant time and capital investments, and legal and regulatory enhancements.
At this pivotal industry transformation period, a closed-door summit on China’s intelligent automotive industry will be held in November 2025 to focus on this topic.
It will gather domestic and international automakers, core supply chain enterprises, and renowned experts to discuss technological breakthroughs and commercialization paths. Limited spots available—early inquiries are welcome.

For more information, please contact YASN. Also, YASN Expo 2026, held March 13–16, is currently accepting exhibitors, with premium booths available for reservation.

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