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GAC and Huawei unveil a landmark luxury sedan
GAC's luxury arm has launched the HiPhi A800, a flagship sedan co-developed with Huawei that just set a new benchmark for Chinese smart cars. The headline: the A800 is the first vehicle in China to obtain a high-speed Level 3 autonomous driving test permit, validated for hands-off highway operation up to 120 km/h. Pre-sales are already underway, and the car arrives as a clear statement of intent from GAC to push deeper into the premium intelligent vehicle market.
Autonomy that matters: Qiankun ADS 4.0 Ultra
At the heart of the A800 is Huawei's latest driving brain, the Qiankun ADS 4.0 Ultra. This Level 3 highway system lets the car take full control in designated conditions without driver intervention. The stack relies on a dense sensor suite — 34 sensors in total, including a 4D millimeter-wave radar, high-definition cameras, and LiDAR — enabling robust environment perception and decision-making at high speeds.
- First L3 vehicle in China with a permit for up to 120 km/h
- 34-sensor architecture including 4D radar, HD cameras, and LiDAR
- Advanced edge processing courtesy of Huawei's compute platform
The permit for high-speed testing is more than a checkbox: it signals regulatory confidence in the system's safety and maturity, and positions the A800 ahead of many rivals in the race for real-world autonomous capability.
Design and interior highlights
GAC's designers aimed to make the A800 unmistakable. The front features an uninterrupted light bar stretching 6068 mm across the fascia, claimed to be the longest on a production passenger car. The A800 also debuts what the company calls three-face adaptive headlights that change form depending on driving mode: autonomous, normal, or park.
Inside, the cabin continues the theatrical theme. A 6536 mm interior light strip creates a futuristic ambiance, complemented by Huawei HarmonySpace 5 smart cabin software. The cockpit houses a 15.6-inch central touchscreen, a 12.3-inch instrument display, and a striking 27-inch head-up display to deliver infotainment and driver assistance information in a layered, intuitive way.
Powertrain and electric range
Despite its high-tech image, the HiPhi A800 is not a pure battery EV. GAC chose a range-extender architecture that pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine acting as a generator with a 35.027 kWh LiFePO4 battery pack. That configuration provides a pure electric driving range of about 178 km, while the range-extender keeps long-distance flexibility and reduces charging stress for many users.
GAC has not yet disclosed full electric motor output ratings or combined range figures, but given the A800's 5.1-meter footprint and flagship positioning, buyers can expect performance and refinement aimed at premium executive sedan buyers.
Market positioning and what it means
The HiPhi A800 arrives at a time when Chinese automakers and tech giants are converging. GAC's collaboration with Huawei showcases how OEMs are leveraging external tech partners to accelerate autonomous and in-car intelligence. For buyers, this means faster rollout of advanced driver assistance, richer cabin experiences, and more hybrid approaches to electrification.
Quote: - The A800 is both a technology showcase and a market signal that high-speed L3 autonomy is becoming commercially tangible in China.
For global observers, the A800 offers an important data point: regulatory approvals and real-world testing at 120 km/h move Level 3 from lab demonstrations toward everyday usability. Expect competitors to step up sensor packages, compute platforms, and software integration as the next iteration of smart sedans emerges.
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