Chinese-spec taxonomy of vehicle driving automation to be put into effect in 2021

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is soliciting public opinion on the Taxonomy of Driving Automation for Vehicles (hereinafter referred to as “the Taxonomy”), marking China is going to possess its own standard system that defines the level of driving automation.

The draft document will remain known to the public until April 9, 2020. Once fully approved, the national-level standard is set to come into effect on January 1, 2021.

（Photo source: Geely)

Led by the National Technical Committee of Auto Standardization, the formulation of the significant standard is also the fruit from the joint efforts offered by Chongqing Changan Automobile, GAC Group, Geely Automotive Research Institute, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, BMW China Services Co.,Ltd., and Ford Motor (China) Ltd., etc.

The Taxonomy covers the definition about driving automation, the classification principle over driving automation, the elements on which the classification should be based, the definition about each automated driving level, the method to decide an automation level as well as the technical requirements over various levels.

The Chinese-spec standard divides the driving automation into six levels. The Level 0 is the lowest one that requires driver to control the car from the start to the end of the journey. Driver support features are limited to warning and momentary assistance, such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning and automatic emergency brake. From Level o to Level 2, the OEDR (object and even detection and response) will be carried out by both drivers and the system. At the highest level (Level 5), the driver is not expected to take over driving when automated driving features are in operation—they can be used at any time and in any place.

There have been two driving automation standards universally acknowledged by the world, which are issued by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) of the U.S. and the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).