The Shenyang round of China’s second Urban NOA driving competition is scheduled for Sept. 12–13, 2026. The event will gather at the Xinhua Technology Building parking lot, at 262 Jia, Shifu Avenue, in Shenyang’s Shenhe district. The route will remain confidential until one hour before the contest begins, while some waypoints will be drawn by lot.
Preliminary runs on Sept. 12 will group vehicles by driver-assistance technology provider. Brands using Huawei, Momenta, WeRide and Horizon Robotics systems will compete within their respective groups, with each group’s winner advancing to the Sept. 13 final. The overall runner-up in the preliminary standings may also qualify for the final, subject to the organizer’s tie-related condition. One highlighted matchup is whether Aion N60 can extend its winning run; newly launched Hongqi Tiangong 08 is also among the vehicles to watch.
Eligible entries must be production vehicles with urban NOA capability, running publicly released software rather than an internal test build. Drivers generally need at least 5,000 kilometers of experience using assisted driving, with exemptions for models on sale for less than six months and first-time entries from a technology provider. Each driver must compete in their own car.
The scoring system totals 120 points across scenario handling, safety and efficiency, with additional points for completing the course without intervention and for time. Drivers who finish receive a bonus calculated at 10 yuan per point; the final’s top scorer will earn the “Urban NOA champion” title and 3,000 yuan. The event will be livestreamed, and a revised rulebook adds deductions for certain parking-to-driving interruptions and adjusts penalties for safety and efficiency incidents.