China to promote policy making for better autonomous car development

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China intends to hammer out the implementation opinions on promoting the development and application of autonomous driving technologies, and optimize the management system for autonomous car road tests, said Liu Xiaoming, vice minister of transport, at a press conference held on May 19.

Liu said the development of autonomous driving technologies is a systematic program that not only requires the coordinated efforts from governmental bodies, industries, universities, research institutions and application, but also needs international communication and down-to-earth collaborations. Going forward, the Ministry of Transport (hereinafter referred to as “the ministry”) will steadily advance the popularization of autonomous driving applications, and the integration of traffic infrastructure, transportation service and energy networks.

(Photo source: Auto X's WeChat account)

To achieve that goal, the cross-sector and trans-regional coordination will be highlighted. He added that the ministry will press ahead with relevant scientific research projects and keep perfecting the technologies and standard systems of autonomous driving and vehicle-infrastructure cooperation. In addition, the authority should launch a batch of pilot projects first, and work on developing the solutions for the scale application of self-driving technologies.

Meanwhile, Mr. Liu updated the breakthroughs the ministry has so far made in advancing autonomous driving development, which can be summarized in six aspects:

1) Issuance of development policies

The Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued the Administrative Rules on the Administration of Road Testing of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICVs) to instruct local authorities and companies to carry out ICV road tests. In February 2020, the Strategies for Innovative Development of Smart Vehicles were jointly released by 11 governmental departments.

2) Technology R&D

There have been five autonomous driving R&D hubs recognized by China’s transport industry. The self-driving-focused research subjects are initiated under some key industrial technology projects to integrate R&D resources and solve major technical problems.

3) Formulation of standards and regulations

The ministry has drawn up over ten criteria about the basic technologies of autonomous driving and vehicle-road collaboration, the technical guidance about the safety of buses and trucks in operation, and the general technical specifications for highway auxiliary facilities adapted to automated driving.

4) Testing and validation

The ministry has authorized six closed testing grounds for autonomous cars to enhance the tests’ safety level, and strengthen the R&D and testing involving both vehicles and infrastructures. Besides, the data sharing and mutual acknowledgement of results among different testing areas are encouraged under the joint efforts with the MIIT and the Ministry of Public Security.

5) Launch of pilot projects

Quite a few pilot projects themed the next-generation national transport control network and smart highway have been launched and conducted, which follow the cutting-edge technology trends of infrastructure-based intelligence, integration of land transport and vehicle-road synergy, and help promote the applications of 5G-enabled communications and the BeiDou navigation satellite system.

6) International cooperation

The ministry proactively organizes the communication of autonomous driving technologies with countries like Germany and Netherlands, and carries forward the collaboration with Russia in constructing self-driving passageways that extend beyond borders.