Shenzhen sets official regulation for autonomous driving vehicles

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Shenzhen has passed an administration regulation for intelligent connected vehicles in the city, marking the first of its kind in China. The regulation will be enforced from August 1st. 

Baidu Apollo Robotaxi in Shenzhen; photo credit: Baidu Apollo

The regulation sets specific stipulations regarding the definition, road tests, demonstration operation, admission and registration, use management, traffic violations and accidents for intelligent connected vehicles. 

In definition, the intelligent connected vehicles in the regulation refers to autonomous vehicles that can safely operate on roads substitute for human drivers, including conditioned autonomous driving (L3), highly autonomous driving (L4), and fully autonomous driving (L5).

The regulation recognizes road test permissions from outside Shenzhen. Entities who have already obtained road test permission in other cities or provinces and wish to conduct the same activities in Shenzhen, can use the original filing document to apply for a temporary vehicle license in Shenzhen. 

Moreover, the intelligent connected vehicles can be traded once they are admitted by authorities and included into the national or Shenzhen municipal vehicle catalogues. With permissions from the public security organ the vehicles can operate on roads. After obtaining permission from the transportation department, the vehicles can be used for commercial transportation services in Shenzhen.  

In addition, L3 and L4 autonomous vehicles should have human-driving mode and corresponding equipment with drivers on roads. Meanwhile, L5 fully autonomous vehicles are allowed to not have human-driving mode, equipment, or drivers on roads. However, driverless vehicles can only operate in designated areas in the city.