According to a statement from the Ministry of Transport, the guidelines apply to autonomous vehicles for passengers and freight.
As part of a series of measures preparing for the increased use of driverless cars, China on Tuesday released safety guidelines for autonomous vehicles in public transport.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Transport, the guidelines apply to autonomous vehicles for passengers and freight.
At least one driver or security inspector is required in vehicles with various degrees of automation.
In addition, they stipulate that companies that use autonomous vehicles for public transportation must be licensed and qualified, and that they may work with automakers on such projects.
“The guideline may accelerate the adoption of autonomous driving technologies in China by regulating automakers and fleet operators,” said Xue Jiancong, president of FOR-U Smart Freight’s innovation unit.
In contrast to their U.S. counterparts, Chinese regulators do not directly target software developers.
The world’s largest auto market has been mapping out standards and regulations for autonomous driving. By 2025, it aims to develop a system that can support assisted and autonomous driving functions, introduce standards that will support the development of autonomous driving applications, and establish a safety assurance system.
