China Launches Mandatory Safety Standards for Autonomous Driving Systems

China has launched mandatory national standards on safety requirements for autonomous driving systems, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced on Tuesday. The standards, approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardisation Administration of China, are scheduled to come into force on 1 July 2027. The standards apply to Category M and N vehicles equipped with Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous systems, but do not cover automatic parking systems, the ministry said. The standards require vehicle manufacturers to enhance safety assurance mechanisms throughout the entire product lifecycle and to conduct simulations, field tests, and road tests during the development and verification process of autonomous driving systems. The standards also demand improved capability in performing dynamic driving tasks, whilst establishing requirements for human-machine interaction and user notifications to prevent misuse and improper use. For Level 3 systems, vehicles must be able to monitor the driver’s readiness to take over control of the vehicle. Going forward, the ministry stated it will strengthen market access management for intelligent connected vehicle products, improve testing methods for autonomous driving systems, and build a solid regulatory mechanism for intelligent connected vehicles to ensure the sector’s high-quality development.