China has taken a significant step towards the future of transportation by approving public trials for advanced autonomous driving (AD) technologies. A select group of nine automakers, including industry leaders like BYD and Nio, will conduct tests on public roads as part of a nationwide initiative to accelerate the adoption of self-driving cars.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that pilot projects for intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) will be launched in seven major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. These smart vehicles range from passenger cars to buses and trucks, each undergoing rigorous testing and safety assessments during the pilot phase.
With over 29,000 kilometers of dedicated test roads and more than 6,800 test licenses issued by April, China has amassed an impressive 88 million kilometers of accumulated test mileage. These efforts have positioned the Chinese mainland as a leader in ICV development, with several models now ready for mass production and application.
“Our focus is on enhancing functionality, performance, and especially safety,” said Liu Fawang, deputy director of the Equipment Industry Development Center at MIIT. By prioritizing these aspects, China aims to propel its ICV industry towards high-quality development and seamless integration with current traffic systems to improve overall road safety.
Fleet operators, including ride-hailing companies, will also participate in the trials, paving the way for broader commercialization of AD technologies. Meanwhile, companies like Tesla are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to introduce their Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems in China, gearing up to bring fully autonomous cars to the country’s vast market.
Reference(s):
China approves first public trials of advanced autonomous driving
cgtn.com
