The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently announced the official release of the mandatory national standard titled "Intelligent Connected Vehicles – Autonomous Driving System Safety Requirements" (GB 44721—2026), approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Standardization Administration of China, with enforcement set to begin on July 1, 2027.
In recent years, the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation has deepened, leading to accelerated breakthroughs in China's autonomous driving technology. The road testing of intelligent connected vehicles has progressed in an orderly manner, and in 2025, two L3-level (conditional automation) models received conditional access permits. To meet the growing demands of rapid industrial development for standardization, the MIIT expedited the development of the intelligent connected vehicle standard system and key priority standards. Since 2025, it has organized the National Technical Committee of Auto Standardization to initiate the formulation of the mandatory national standard for autonomous driving system safety.
The standard applies to M and N category vehicles equipped with L3 and L4 (high automation) systems, but excludes automatic parking systems. It is designed based on the practical needs of China's industrial development and industry regulation, balancing technical feasibility, industrial adaptability, and operational practicality. It establishes a comprehensive safety requirement framework with clear dimensions and adaptability to local conditions.
First, it strengthens the full lifecycle safety assurance mechanism for enterprises, laying a solid safety foundation. The standard requires vehicle manufacturers to build assurance capabilities covering the entire process of product design, development, manufacturing, and post-deployment, focusing on safety policies, risk management, safety assurance, and safety improvement. This aims to reduce potential safety risks in autonomous driving systems from the source. Additionally, manufacturers must conduct corresponding simulations, test site, and road trials during the R&D and verification of autonomous driving systems, ensuring that the necessary resources and conditions meet verification requirements.
Second, it enhances the system's ability to execute dynamic driving tasks, ensuring safe usage. The standard mandates that the safety level of autonomous driving systems must at least match that of a qualified and attentive driver performing the dynamic driving task, without posing unreasonable risks to users or other road users. It specifies safety requirements for executing dynamic driving tasks in various scenarios and clarifies the trigger and execution conditions for minimal risk maneuvers.
Third, it standardizes human-machine interaction and user notification requirements to prevent misuse and abuse. The standard requires that the activation and deactivation processes of autonomous driving systems be safe, with clear specifications for state information and signals such as readiness, activation, and deactivation. For L3 systems, driver takeover capability monitoring is required. Manufacturers must also provide clear information through product manuals, official websites, or in-vehicle displays, detailing the automation level, capability scope, limitations, control strategies, and user role transitions to guide correct understanding and use.
Fourth, it establishes a multi-dimensional testing and inspection method to ensure the standard's practical implementation. The standard builds an integrated inspection system combining "enterprise assurance capability checks," "safety file checks," and "confirmatory tests." It evaluates enterprise safety assurance capabilities and the completeness and robustness of product safety files. Third-party testing agencies will then conduct confirmatory tests using recommended national standards such as GB/T 41798, GB/T 44719, and GB/T 47025, employing test site, road, and simulation methods to comprehensively verify the actual capabilities of autonomous driving systems.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Autonomous Driving Systems (ADS GTR), led by China, was officially approved and released in June 2026. Compared to the ADS GTR, China's standard imposes more detailed technical requirements for L3 and L4 systems, further clarifying safety boundaries for different product levels, improving user notification and operation training, and innovatively building a unified standardized test scenario system. While maintaining alignment with international technical regulations, it better suits China's road traffic environment and industry management needs, making it more feasible for implementation.
The release of the "Intelligent Connected Vehicles – Autonomous Driving System Safety Requirements" provides a unified safety baseline for the access of autonomous driving products. It is significant for regulating the R&D and application of autonomous driving technology, enhancing road traffic safety, reinforcing corporate safety responsibilities, and supporting the healthy and sustainable development of the industry. Looking ahead, the MIIT will thoroughly implement the standard's promotion, interpretation, and enforcement, strengthen the access management of intelligent connected vehicle products, and ensure the safe and compliant application of autonomous driving systems. It will also continuously improve supporting standards for autonomous driving test methods, safety event data interaction, and management systems, accelerating the construction of a comprehensive regulatory framework for intelligent connected vehicles. This will speed up the industrialization and large-scale adoption of autonomous driving technology, leading China's intelligent connected vehicle industry toward high-quality development.
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