On March 12, 2026, Geely Auto Group’s intelligent driving assistance system, G-ASD, secured United Nations/European Union UN R171 certification, marking the first time a Chinese automaker has achieved this key regulatory approval. The certification, announced by Geely on March 13, confirms that G-ASD meets safety and performance requirements for advanced driver assistance systems across all member states of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Vehicles equipped with G-ASD are expected to reach European roads by June 2026.
Developed by Afari Technology, a subsidiary of Geely’s Lifan Group based in Chongqing, G-ASD—short for “Geely Afari Smart Driving”—has been designed to provide highway navigation assistance. European regulations currently allow only highway assistance functions, while urban navigation features common in China remain under review. According to Li Chuanhai, CTO of Geely Auto Group, European authorities maintain stringent safety standards but are open to adopting new intelligent driving technologies. He noted that the first Level 3 autonomous vehicle certified under these rules was introduced by Mercedes-Benz.
The certified system will debut in Europe within Lotus-branded vehicles this June. Lotus Technology, which owns the Lotus marque, operates alongside Geely Auto Group under Geely Holding Group. Li compared the European market to China’s experience several years ago, when driver assistance features were a novelty but rapidly gained consumer acceptance. A McKinsey study projects that fully autonomous vehicles could represent up to 25 percent of European auto sales by 2035, reflecting growing interest in automotive intelligence.
Other Chinese automakers are also extending their reach overseas. XPeng and Nio have begun exporting models with basic driver assistance functions, while technology suppliers such as iMotion and Zhuoyu Technology have established local research, development and service operations in key markets. However, industry experts caution that intelligent vehicle exports require ongoing lifecycle services and extensive data collection, raising concerns around data storage, cross-border transmission and regulatory compliance. Geopolitical tensions add further complexity; for example, plans are under discussion in the United States to restrict imports of Chinese-made connected vehicles starting in 2027.
Despite these challenges, Geely remains optimistic about international growth. Li affirmed that Chinese firms lead in driver assistance technologies and that broader global deployment is inevitable. Geely plans to integrate G-ASD into its Geely, Zeekr and Lynk & Co vehicles destined for overseas markets.
Source: CarNewsChina
