China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements for Intelligent Connected Vehicles

On February 12, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements as mandatory national standards for public consultation until April 13. The regulation, formally titled “Safety Requirements for Automated Driving Systems (ADSs) for Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICVs),” establishes a structured compliance framework for Category M and N vehicles equipped with Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving systems, excluding automated parking functions. The China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements are designed to enhance road traffic safety while accelerating the commercialization of advanced automated driving technologies.

Scope and Vehicle Categories

The China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements apply to Intelligent Connected Vehicles operating with conditional and highly automated driving capabilities. The standards focus specifically on Level 3 ADS and Level 4 ADS applications within passenger and commercial vehicle segments classified under Categories M and N. By excluding automated parking systems, the framework concentrates on dynamic on-road driving scenarios that carry higher operational complexity and safety risk.

Level 3 ADS Operational Expectations

Under the China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements, Level 3 ADS deployments must ensure that drivers retain the ability to take over vehicle control when prompted. Users are required to respond promptly to manual takeover requests, reinforcing the shared responsibility model between human drivers and automated systems. Clear operational boundaries and driver readiness monitoring are therefore central to compliance.

Level 4 ADS Risk Mitigation Strategy

For Level 4 ADS applications, the regulation mandates that systems automatically implement the least risky strategy when necessary. This requirement ensures that vehicles can transition to a safe state without human intervention if system limitations or unexpected conditions arise. The objective is to minimize hazards during edge-case scenarios and maintain predictable safety behavior.

Alignment with Global Technical Regulations

The China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements demonstrate high consistency with the UN ADS Global Technical Regulations. By aligning with international regulatory principles, the framework supports cross-border harmonization and reduces fragmentation in compliance expectations. This alignment strengthens China’s position in the global Intelligent Connected Vehicles ecosystem while promoting standardized validation methodologies.

Enterprise-Level Compliance Obligations

The regulation introduces structured enterprise responsibilities to mitigate ADS-related risks across the entire product lifecycle. Automakers must establish and implement safety assurance measures spanning design, development, production, and deployment phases. The China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements emphasize systematic safety governance supported by normative engineering practices and post-market management.

• Development of lifecycle-based safety assurance frameworks
• Implementation of structured safety management processes
• Compliance with simulation, closed-site, and public road testing conditions
• Verification mechanisms compatible with ADS research and development

Enterprises are required to validate automated driving performance through simulation environments, controlled testing facilities, and real-world road trials. These measures ensure robust verification before large-scale commercialization.

Product-Level Technical and HMI Requirements

At the product level, the China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements strengthen performance benchmarks related to the dynamic driving task. Systems must demonstrate reliable perception, decision-making, and control capabilities under defined operational design domains. Enhanced performance standards are intended to improve operational reliability across varied traffic conditions.

ADS Human-Machine Interaction Standards

The regulation further specifies requirements for ADS human-machine interaction and user notification mechanisms. Clear system status communication, takeover alerts, and usage guidance are mandated to prevent misuse and misunderstanding. By standardizing ADS human-machine interaction protocols, the China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements promote safer user engagement and informed operation.

Through harmonized global alignment, lifecycle-based enterprise oversight, and strengthened product validation standards, the China Automated Driving Systems Safety Requirements establish a comprehensive regulatory foundation for safe and scalable automated driving deployment.