China's first official license plate dedicated to Level-3 (L3) autonomous driving was issued in the southwestern city of Chongqing on Saturday, marking a leap as advanced driving technologies transitions from limited testing authorization to formal road access.
The license plate, bearing the number of "Yu-AD0001Z," was granted by the municipal public security and traffic administration authority to a car manufactured by Chinese auto maker Changan Automobile.
Last week, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) granted permits to two electric sedans -- one from Changan Automobile and the other from BAIC Motor's Arcfox -- to offer L3 self-driving functions on select roads in Chongqing and Beijing, respectively.
The step from Level 2 to Level 3 is a critical transition from assisted driving to automated driving. Level 3, "conditionally automated driving," allows vehicles to perform dynamic automated driving tasks while requiring a human driver to remain available to take control when requested.
At present, Changan Automobile's L3 autonomous driving system has been tested on real roads in Chongqing for over 5 million kilometers.
China grants first L3 autonomous driving license plate in southwestern city
China grants first L3 autonomous driving license plate in southwestern city
The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 72,027, with 171,651 others wounded since Oct 7, 2023, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday.
In a press statement, the authorities said that 174 deaths from Jan 30 to Feb 6 were added to the official count, following approval by the relevant government committee.
Since a ceasefire in Gaza came into effect in October, 576 Palestinians have been killed and 1,543 others wounded, it added.
In a separate statement, the health authorities said that the remaining functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip, struggling to continue providing services, have become mere waiting rooms for thousands of patients, adding that many of the wounded face an uncertain fate.
The war has made sustaining healthcare a daily struggle, severely hindering recovery and the revival of specialized medical services, the authorities said.
The statement warned that basic painkillers have become a rare luxury due to shortages. It also said that 46 percent of essential medicines, 66 percent of medical supplies and 84 percent of laboratory and blood bank materials are completely out of stock.
It added that cancer treatment, hematology, surgery, intensive care and primary healthcare are among the hardest hit, with the limited supplies available falling far short of demand.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza Strip surpasses 72,000 since Oct 2023
