Beijing: China on Tuesday unveiled its maiden mandatory national safety standards for advanced autonomous vehicles, set to take effect next year, state media reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Industry and Information Technology Ministry announced that the new rules on safety requirements for automated driving systems of intelligent connected vehicles will take effect next July, as reported by state-run China Daily. These standards necessitate that automakers implement comprehensive end-to-end safety systems before deploying Level 3 and Level 4 self-driving technologies on public roads.

The standards also mandate that automakers establish a full-lifecycle safety management approach, which includes vehicle design, development, manufacturing, and post-deployment operations. Companies will be obligated to implement risk management systems and conduct exhaustive testing, including simulation tests, closed-course testing, and real-world road trials, before deploying autonomous driving functions.

Beijing's initiative comes in the context of a global race among automakers and tech companies to integrate autonomous driving into everyday transportation. China had previously granted conditional access approval to two Level 3 autonomous driving vehicle models in 2025, marking an initial step toward wider commercial deployment.

Manufacturers of these vehicles must ensure that systems are equipped to monitor drivers' readiness and ability to take control when necessary. Additionally, manufacturers are required to clearly communicate the vehicle's automation level, operational boundaries, limitations, and user responsibilities through user manuals, websites, and in-vehicle displays.