On 27 July 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the Ministry of Transport (MoT) published the Rules for Road Test and Demonstration Application of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (Trial), which will replace the 2018 Rules for ICV Road Test and take effect from 1 September 2021.
The Rules apply to both road tests and demonstration applications of ICVs within the territory of China. ‘Road test’ refers to the automatic driving function test of ICVs carried out on designated sections of highways (including expressways), urban roads, specific regions, and other roads used for social motor vehicles, while demonstration application refers to the operation activities of ICVs carrying people or goods on these roads which have the effect of a trial operation. The ICVs used in road tests or demonstration applications should be passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, or special operation vehicles (excluding low-speed vehicles and motorcycles).
The applicants for the road test or demonstration application should be legal entities registered in China. Before applying for the road test, the autonomous driving function of road test vehicles shall be tested by third-party testing institutions accredited by the state or province to engage in automobile related business (third-party testing institutions shall disclose testing service items and charging standards to the public). If the vehicle to be tested is an imported motor vehicle, the applicant shall provide the compulsory product certificate for imported motor vehicles, the inspection list attached to the vehicle, and the import certificate. For those who have not obtained the compulsory product certificate, the following shall be provided:
i) a declaration that the vehicle meets the conditions for safe operation and;
ii) a compulsory inspection report of the corresponding vehicle issued by the state-approved third-party testing organization.
According to the Rules, if foreign invested ICV manufacturers need to conduct road tests or demonstration applications in China, they should either be China-registered legal entities, or assign their distributors in China to apply. SESEC will follow up on the upcoming detailed rules on ICV development in China.
