China’s Ministry of Public Security so far issues 16,000 autonomous vehicle testing licenses

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 27, Wang Qiang, Director of the Traffic Management Bureau of China's Ministry of Public Security, announced at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that Chinese authorities have so far issued 16,000 autonomous vehicle testing licenses and opened 32,000 kilometers of public roads for autonomous vehicle testing. These efforts significantly support the country's validation and iterative improvement of autonomous driving technology.

WeRide's Robotaxi; photo credit: WeRide

Autonomous and driverless vehicles represent a critical frontier in the current global technological revolution. Through sustained technical development and rigorous testing, China's autonomous vehicle industry is progressing systematically. Mr. Wang emphasized that the public security agencies are actively fulfilling their responsibilities, legally protecting the rights of traffic participants, adapting to the evolving technological landscape, and collaborating with industry regulators to enhance management and security measures.

China is developing a comprehensive management system for autonomous vehicles, encompassing road testing, demonstration applications, market access, and public road operations. In July 2021, the Ministry of Public Security, in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Ministry of Transport, issued guidelines clarifying the requirements for road testing and demonstration applications of autonomous vehicles. These guidelines cover subjects such as responsible parties, drivers, and vehicles, as well as management of road tests, demonstration applications, handling of traffic violations, and accident response. In November 2023, the Ministry of Public Security, alongside the MIIT, introduced regulations to pilot market access for autonomous vehicle products that have passed technical tests and are ready for mass production. Once approved, these vehicles can be insured, registered, and used in pilot programs within designated areas. Furthermore, the Ministry of Public Security and MIIT have jointly issued a notice detailing management measures for road traffic safety and cybersecurity, promoting the application of "vehicle-road-cloud integration" systems.

The country is also actively promoting the formulation and revision of technical standards. This includes advancing national standards, such as the "Technical Requirements for the Safety Testing of Intelligent and Connected Vehicles," and public safety industry standards like the "Requirements for Elements and Settings of Public Road Testing Scenarios for Intelligent and Connected Vehicles." Collaboration with the MIIT and other departments is ongoing to establish a unified national technical standard system for autonomous vehicles.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Security is driving the revision of road traffic safety laws, focusing on refining regulations related to road testing, public road operations, and liability issues concerning autonomous vehicles. Wang Qiang stressed that moving forward, the Ministry will balance development and safety, working closely with the MIIT, the Ministry of Transport, and other regulatory bodies to safely and orderly advance the autonomous driving industry and promote the transformation and upgrading of the automotive sector, thereby contributing to high-quality economic growth in China.