China unveils safety standards for autonomous vehicles
From 1 stJuly 2027, China will enforce safety rules for autonomous vehicles requiring human‑override functions, clearer activation and deactivation procedures, and driver readiness monitoring, aligning with new UN regulations.
4th August 2026 – (Beijing) China has announced a comprehensive set of safety standards to govern autonomous vehicles as their presence on public roads grows. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Tuesday, 4th August, that the rules will take effect on 1st July 2027 and will apply both to vehicles requiring a human back‑up driver and to fully driverless services such as robotaxis. Manufacturers will be required to ensure automated driving performance is comparable to that of a competent human driver and to provide buyers with clear information on system limitations. The standards also harmonise human–machine interaction to reduce the risk of misuse, setting out safe, uniform procedures for engaging and disengaging automated functions and mandating a reliable deactivation override. For vehicles that still rely on a safety driver, the autonomous system must continuously assess the driver’s readiness to assume control. Authorities said these measures are designed to address persistent safety concerns and the high costs that have slowed deployment of advanced self‑driving technologies. Beijing has already tightened scrutiny of assisted driving systems, warning carmakers after a fatal crash in 2025 involving a Xiaomi vehicle operating in assisted mode that safety rules would be more strictly enforced. The new national standards follow the adoption in June by a United Nations agency of the first global regulations for fully autonomous vehicles, which China supported.