Limitations on high-definition (HD) mapping could be putting the brakes on China's big ambitions in autonomous driving.

That's the message coming from members of China’s autonomous-vehicle sector, who say such regulations are hindering the industry’s development.

Industry insiders made their appeal at the annual Global Future Mobility Conference held in Eastern China’s Zhejiang province from Friday to Sunday.

HD maps, which are significantly more detailed than the maps used in current satellite navigation systems, are seen as key to the development of self-driving vehicles. But in China, official restrictions mean that only a few companies possess the necessary licenses to make such maps. Even licensed companies often hit other roadblocks, such as a ban on surveying areas near certain military facilities.

Read the full story later today on Caixin Global.

Contact reporter Mo Yelin (yelinmo@caixin.com)

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