Beijing to implement autonomous vehicle-related regulations from Apr. 2024

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 31, 2024, the Standing Committee of the 16th Beijing Municipal People's Congress approved "Beijing Autonomous Vehicle Regulations" (hereinafter referred to as "the Regulations"), set to take effect on April 1, 2025.

The Regulations focus on fostering innovation in autonomous driving technology, infrastructure planning and construction, on-road traffic management, and safety assurance, providing a clear regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles equipped with Level 3 and higher systems.

Under the Regulations, Beijing supports the use of autonomous vehicles in various sectors, including private cars, urban buses, taxis, and urban service operations. Autonomous vehicles, after passing road tests, pilot applications, and safety assessments, will be eligible to apply for road trials.

The Regulations also encourage insurance companies to develop products tailored to autonomous vehicles, offering coverage to relevant businesses and consumers.

The Regulations define autonomous vehicles as those equipped with autonomous driving systems capable of safe operation on roads. These include vehicles with conditional, high-level, and fully autonomous driving functions, as defined by national standards.

Notably, the Regulations stipulate that autonomous vehicles listed in the vehicle product catalog and meeting the required national standards can be used for personal passenger cars. Drivers of such vehicles must follow road traffic rules and the vehicle's user manual, ensuring proper and regulated use of autonomous driving functions.

The Regulations also specify measures to mitigate risks in case of vehicle malfunctions or emergencies. In scenarios where an autonomous vehicle exits its drivable area, encounters road conditions that may impact safety, or faces other hazards, the driver or safety operator must manually intervene, activate hazard warning lights, reduce speed, and park the vehicle in a safe location to minimize the risk of accidents.