China greenlights pilot open-road program for L3/L4 intelligent connected vehicles

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On November 17, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and Ministry of Transport jointly released a notice, titled "Notice on Conducting Pilot Program for Intelligent Connected Vehicles." 

This initiative aims to promote the widespread application of intelligent connected vehicles across the nation, elevating their performance and enhancing safety protocols.

The notice outlines a strategy following the foundation laid by road testing and demonstration of intelligent connected vehicles. The four departments will select intelligent connected vehicle products equipped with autonomous driving capabilities (L3/L4), suitable for mass production, to initiate a pilot access phase. These approved vehicles will conduct trial runs within designated areas. Vehicles used for transportation operations must meet the qualifications and operational management requirements set by transportation authorities.

Pony.ai autonomous vehicle in Beijing; photo credit: Pony.ai

According to the notice's specifics, the four departments will select intelligent connected vehicle products featuring L3/L4 autonomous driving capabilities for the pilot access phase. Collaborative groups comprising automobile manufacturers and users will voluntarily apply to their provincial-level industrial and information technology authorities.

Approved intelligent connected vehicles participating in the pilot phase will conduct on-road trials within specified areas. Participants must adhere to regulations by purchasing insurance, completing registration, and monitoring the vehicle's operational status.

To enhance visibility and awareness, these trial vehicles must display conspicuous patterns, text, or colors on their bodies to alert surrounding vehicles and participants. Additionally, these vehicles must be manned by safety officers with a minimum of three years' driving experience and specialized training.

In case of traffic accidents, network or data security incidents, or emergencies resulting from the failure of a vehicle's autonomous driving system, the participating entities, automobile manufacturers, and local city government departments are required to follow emergency plans for efficient resolution.

Although this notice doesn't immediately grant individual users the ability to drive L3/L4 autonomous vehicles on roads, it signifies numerous favorable developments for the domestic autonomous driving industry.

The notice explicitly delineates accident responsibilities concerning autonomous driving vehicles: when the autonomous driving function is active, the responsibility lies with the intelligent connected vehicle itself; if the function is inactive, the current regulations for responsibility apply, holding the driver or other liable parties accountable.

Moreover, it defines the entities responsible for delineating responsibilities. Participating entities, trial automobile manufacturers, autonomous driving system developers, infrastructure and equipment providers, as well as safety officers, are all included within the scope of accountability considerations.