China has published mandatory national safety standards for autonomous driving systems, setting technical requirements for the country's growing fleet of self-driving vehicles. The regulations are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.
The rules apply to Category M and N vehicles equipped with Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous systems but exclude automated parking functions. For Level 3 systems, manufacturers must ensure the vehicle can monitor whether the driver is prepared to resume control when the automation requests a handover.
The announcement follows heightened scrutiny of autonomous vehicle safety in China. Three people died last year in a crash involving an automated vehicle made by Xiaomi, an incident that underscored the risks accompanying the rapid deployment of driver-assistance technologies on public roads.