XPeng, Li Auto, and Huawei-backed brands push full-stack City NOA into large-scale deployment
China’s autonomous driving industry is entering a critical new phase. On June 30, XPeng Motors announced the nationwide rollout of its XNGP full-scenario intelligent driving system for several key models, enabling map-free City Navigation on Autopilot (City NOA) across more than 60 cities. This marks what many experts are calling China’s “first year of mass-produced L3-level autonomous driving.”
In parallel, other domestic players—Li Auto, AITO (backed by Huawei), and Avatr—have also accelerated the release of advanced City NOA features, signaling that the race in intelligent mobility is shifting from demo showcases to real-world scalability.
XPeng XNGP Rolls Out Nationwide, Unlocking Map-Free Urban Driving
XPeng’s latest OTA update brings XNGP functionality to models such as the X9, G6, and P7i. The system enables driving without relying on high-definition maps, with full support for real-time traffic lights, complex intersections, pedestrian yielding, and dense urban commuting scenarios.
According to XPeng, XNGP has surpassed 360 million kilometers in cumulative mileage, with human intervention dropping below 0.8 times per 100 km. Industry analysts view this as a turning point, shifting smart driving from experimental R&D to daily-use practicality.
Li Auto Expands City NOA to More Cities with “Navigation Co-Driving”
Li Auto is also making strides, with its AD Max 3.0 system undergoing City NOA trials in major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Wuhan. The company plans to expand to 50 cities nationwide by Q3 2025.
Li Auto has also deepened its collaboration with Baidu Apollo, integrating their perception and scheduling layers. The goal: to deploy nationwide map-free navigation-assisted driving before the end of the year.
Huawei’s Automotive Trio Moves Fast Toward L3 Mass Deployment
Huawei-powered brands—AITO M9, Avatr 12, and Luxeed S7—have all launched urban NOA via the ADS 3.0 system, supporting functions like automatic community entry and multi-floor garage navigation. Huawei recently confirmed that ADS 3.5 will enter mass production in August, marking a major leap toward true Level 3 autonomous capabilities.
Key highlights of ADS 3.5 include:
- Map-independent decision-making
- Fusion of visual and lidar perception
- Complex roundabout navigation
- Dynamic obstacle avoidance in congested areas
A New Driving Paradigm: From Assistance to Human-AI Collaboration
While current City NOA systems don’t yet meet full Level 4 autonomy standards, their practicality and stability in high-frequency commuting scenarios are rapidly improving. For many consumers, smart driving features have become a key buying consideration.
According to iResearch’s 2025 China Smart Vehicle Insights Report, over 62% of EV users have either activated or purchased City NOA functions, with penetration rates exceeding 78% in Tier-1 cities.
Editorial: From Tech War to User Value
China’s autonomous driving battlefield is now expanding beyond “sensor specs” to “algorithm depth” and “urban coverage speed.” The focus is shifting from a hardware arms race to product experience, data-driven optimization, and service loop integration. In the years to come, the real winners will be those who can deliver scalable, sustainable, and user-trusted intelligent driving systems.