China's First Mandatory Standard for Autonomous Driving Safety Issued
China has released its first mandatory national standard for the safety requirements of L3 and L4 autonomous driving systems in connected vehicles. The standard will be implemented starting July 1, 2027.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has officially released the mandatory national standard "Safety Requirements for Autonomous Driving Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles" (GB 44721—2026). This standard is set to take effect on July 1, 2027.
This marks China's first mandatory regulation specifically targeting L3 (conditional automated driving) and L4 (highly automated driving) systems. It represents a significant upgrade from the previously issued, non-mandatory GB/T 44721—2024 standard, shifting requirements from recommended to compulsory.
The new standard applies to M-category (passenger) and N-category (freight) vehicles equipped with L3 and L4 autonomous driving systems. It explicitly excludes automated parking systems. The regulation mandates that vehicle manufacturers establish comprehensive safety assurance mechanisms throughout the entire lifecycle of the autonomous driving system, from design and development to production and post-deployment.
Key requirements include ensuring the system's performance meets or exceeds that of a competent, attentive human driver in dynamic driving tasks and defining clear protocols for minimum risk maneuvers and operational transitions. The standard also enhances requirements for human-machine interaction and user notifications, particularly for L3 systems, to ensure drivers can safely resume control when necessary. Manufacturers will be required to clearly communicate the system's capabilities, limitations, and operational domains to users.