XPeng Debunks False Claims on L3 Dual Redundancy and L4 LiDAR Requirements

In response to recent claims circulated by some self-media outlets—such as "Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving must adopt dual-redundant design" and "Level 4 (L4) systems must be equipped with LiDAR"—Xiaopeng Motors' vice president clarified via social media that this information is false. The relevant national standard, "Safety Requirements for Automated Driving Systems," has been publicly released and does not mention "LiDAR" anywhere, nor does it mandate specific technical approaches for L3 or L4 systems. The standard is outcome-oriented, specifying only the safety performance objectives that automated driving systems must achieve—such as reliably detecting objects, handling performance degradation, and executing dynamic driving tasks across various scenarios—but it does not prescribe how these objectives should be met. Companies are free to choose their own technical solutions to comply with the standard, just as national battery safety standards do not dictate specific chemical compositions, and societal advocacy for respecting the elderly does not prescribe exact behavioral details. Xiaopeng emphasized that industry professionals and media should adhere to basic fact-checking principles and avoid disseminating unverified information based on speculation or preconceived positions. The company also provided a public link to the official standard document for reference. Additionally, Xiaopeng Motors Chairman He Xiaopeng stated in May that LiDAR is no longer essential in the automotive field, though he acknowledged its continued value in other industries.