Key facts
- China's National People's Congress is reviewing a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law.
- The amendment proposes holding carmakers or importers legally responsible for traffic violations by autonomous vehicles.
- The new rules distinguish between fully autonomous vehicles and those with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
- The legislation aims to create a nationwide framework for the commercial deployment of self-driving cars.
- A mandatory Level 3/4 safety standard is set to take effect in July 2027.
China's National People's Congress has begun reviewing a draft amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law that would establish legal liability for traffic violations committed by autonomous vehicles. Under the proposed legislation, carmakers or importers would be held responsible when their self-driving vehicles cause violations.
The amendment aims to create a unified, nationwide legal framework to support the large-scale commercial deployment of autonomous driving technology. This move comes as automakers and suppliers are increasing their investments in self-driving capabilities.
The draft specifies that vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as Level 2 technology already present in a significant portion of new cars sold in China, will continue to place full responsibility on the human driver. The new liability rules are specifically targeted at fully autonomous vehicles operating at higher levels of automation (SAE Level 3/4).
This legislative effort follows a gradual approach to regulating autonomous driving, with municipal pilot programs and city-level laws preceding the national review. Shenzhen enacted the country's first city-level autonomous vehicle liability law in 2022, and Beijing issued its first Level 3 road-use permits in December 2025. A related crackdown on ADAS marketing in 2025, prompted by incidents like a fatal Xiaomi SU7 crash, also helped set the stage for clearer regulations.
A separate mandatory safety standard for Level 3/4 autonomous vehicles, announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, is scheduled to take effect in July 2027, further supporting the development and deployment of this technology.