Wedoany.com Report-Dec.25, On December 23, Beijing issued China's first batch of dedicated license plates for L3 autonomous driving vehicles. Three ARCFOX Alpha S (L3 version) vehicles received plates 京AA0001Z, 京AA0733Z, and 京AA0880Z, granting them full legal road access. This marks the first time an L3 production model has completed both regulatory approval and formal registration in China.

The milestone follows the vehicle's official product access approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on December 15. Within seven days, the process advanced from regulatory clearance to license plate issuance, reflecting efficient coordination between key approval stages.

The plate 京AA0001Z holds particular significance as China's first official autonomous driving license plate that permits operation beyond congestion-restricted highway conditions. It represents the highest level of autonomous driving technology currently authorized for public road use. The plate 京AA0733Z aligns with BAIC BJEV's A-share stock code, symbolizing the company's commitment to innovation and market confidence.

The ARCFOX Alpha S (L3) is the only vehicle in the initial batch equipped with LiDAR, delivering enhanced perception redundancy and system reliability. Before registration, the vehicles underwent rigorous internal testing, compliance evaluations by traffic authorities, and full-process emergency drills. These drills, covering accident response and traffic violation scenarios, were conducted jointly with experts from the Ministry of Public Security and Beijing traffic police on pilot highway sections.

Initial trial operations will occur on designated routes, including the Beijing–Taipei Expressway, Airport North Line Expressway, and Daxing Airport Expressway. These trials will enable the accumulation of real-world data in complex traffic conditions, supporting future broader deployment.

According to BAIC Group, the successful registration results from sustained investment in intelligent connectivity, new energy technologies, and vehicle safety. The company's proprietary intelligent vehicle framework, BAIC Yuanjing Intelligence, is among the industry's first to span assisted driving capabilities from L2 through L4. It is built around a "one core, three rings" safety architecture that prioritizes safety-by-design, lifecycle-wide protection, and continuous validation.

A dedicated autonomous driving safety monitoring platform provides round-the-clock vehicle status tracking and data analysis. This forms a closed-loop management system that integrates real-time monitoring, data-driven insights, and ongoing optimization.

The issuance of these plates signals a key transition from controlled technical validation to legally sanctioned real-world operation for Level 3 autonomous driving in China. The development supports the advancement of intelligent mobility and contributes to the country's broader goals in new energy vehicle technology and transportation innovation.