New Pilot Program Aims to Speed Up Commercialization of Self-Driving Tech in China

The central government has launched a pilot program that aims to get more autonomous cars on China’s roads and speed up the commercialization of the technology, as automakers bet big that smart car tech like self-driving software and other connectivity features will make them stand out with customers.

Intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) will be allowed to operate in designated areas on a trial basis if their manufacturers and operators get a regulatory permit, according to a notice published Friday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.