Huawei Executive Calls L3 Autonomous Driving a Critical Stage in Tech Evolution

On April 11, at the High-Level Forum on Intelligent Electric Vehicles (2026), Jin Yuzhi, Senior Vice President of Huawei, stated that Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving is an indispensable stage in the evolution of automotive autonomous driving technology from driver assistance toward higher levels. Jin, who also serves as CEO of Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.—the company responsible for operating Huawei’s intelligent automotive solutions business—explained that according to the internationally recognized SAE classification standard for autonomous driving, which defines six levels from L0 to L5, L3 marks the boundary between driver assistance and true autonomous driving. Legally categorized as autonomous driving, L3 requires automakers and technology suppliers to ensure system safety once activated. L3 represents conditional automation, with limited operational design domains, and demands that drivers remain ready to take over control at any moment. Compared to L2 driver assistance systems, L3 offers only marginal improvements in user experience and often results in frequent requests for driver intervention. Moreover, determining liability in the event of a traffic accident occurring before the driver resumes control remains a critical unresolved challenge.