Management Specification for Autonomous Vehicle Road Testing and Demonstration Applications (Trial)

第一条 Legislative Purpose

This regulation is established to support China's objectives of strengthening manufacturing, technology and transportation sectors by promoting intelligent and connected vehicle technology development. It provides a legal framework for standardising autonomous vehicle testing and pilot operations under relevant traffic and road laws.

第二条 Scope and Definitions

The regulation applies to autonomous vehicle testing and demonstration activities in mainland China. It defines road testing as autonomous function trials on designated public roads, demonstration as pilot-stage passenger or cargo operations, and test areas as dedicated facilities with the necessary infrastructure for autonomous vehicle testing.

第三条 National Coordination Mechanism

Three national ministries: industrial and information technology, public security and transport establish a joint mechanism to coordinate, promote and disseminate information about autonomous vehicle road testing and demonstration.

第四条 Provincial and Local Implementation

Provincial and local government departments may develop implementation rules based on local conditions and directly oversee autonomous vehicle road testing and demonstration. These departments include industrial and information technology, public security traffic management and transport authorities at provincial and city levels.

第五条 Road Testing Entity Requirements

Testing entities must be registered domestic legal entities with expertise in vehicle manufacturing, research or testing; adequate financial capacity to cover liability; approved testing procedures; real-time remote monitoring capabilities; event recording and analysis abilities; and network security protections for vehicle and monitoring systems.

第六条 Demonstration Entity Requirements

Demonstration entities may be single or multiple entities acting together, possessing relevant business capabilities including manufacturing, research, testing or operations. For multi-entity consortia, at least one must provide operational services and all members must agree on liability distribution. Entities must demonstrate liability coverage, submit an application plan, and maintain remote monitoring, event tracking and cybersecurity capabilities.

第七条 Driver Qualifications

Test and demonstration drivers must be employed by the testing or demonstration entity under formal contracts, hold appropriate driving licenses with at least three years experience, have no serious traffic violations in the past year, no alcohol-related or substance-abuse driving records, no fatal accident liability, and demonstrate training competency in operating the autonomous functions and handling emergency situations.

第八条 Vehicle Requirements

Test and demonstration vehicles must be previously unregistered automobiles, meet mandatory safety inspection standards with allowances for unavoidable autonomous-function incompatibilities, support both manual and automatic operation modes with safe mode switching, and record vehicle identification, control mode, position, motion state, sensor status, media feeds and remote commands for at least 90 seconds before incidents, retaining data for minimum one year.

第九条 Pre-testing requirements

Before conducting road tests, applicants must complete sufficient vehicle testing in designated zones that meet national and industry standards, requirements from provincial or municipal authorities, and the applicant's own testing procedures. A third-party inspection body recognized at national or provincial level must test the automated driving functions, test sites must be operated by independent registered entities, and these agencies must publicly disclose their service scope and fees while bearing responsibility for result accuracy.

第十条 Safety declaration and supporting documents

Applicants must submit a safety self-declaration confirming details about the testing entity, vehicle, driver, timing, routes and test items, with a maximum duration of 18 months. The submission must include documentation of vehicle basics and vehicle type, the autonomous functions and their operating conditions, correspondence between vehicle capability and test road characteristics, vehicle safety certificates, evidence of network security risk assessment for connected vehicles, third-party test reports on autonomous functions, an approved road test plan, and liability insurance of at least five million yuan.

第十一条 Temporary license plate application

Applicants may apply to traffic police for temporary test vehicle license plates by presenting the approved safety declaration and other supporting documents required under motor vehicle registration rules.

第十二条 License plate scope and renewal

The temporary plate's driving range must align with approved test routes and areas, and its validity shall not exceed the testing timeframe stated in the safety declaration. When the plate expires, applicants may renew it based on a still-valid safety declaration without repeating autonomous function testing. Multi-province plates require approval from traffic authorities in affected regions.

第十三条 Adding vehicles or expanding testing areas

Applicants seeking to add test vehicles or conduct similar testing in other provinces may resubmit materials to relevant provincial or municipal authorities. Additional vehicle submissions require documentation for new vehicles; testing in new areas requires location-specific scenario testing and related approval materials. Testing that duplicates previously validated functions need not be repeated if standards have been met.

第十四条 Updating declarations and driver changes

Applicants must update the safety declaration when it expires or if basic information like test driver changes, and submit modification notices to relevant authorities. Updates involving only expiration of unchanged vehicle configuration or test items do not require retesting; changes to vehicle or test content require third-party testing of affected items.

第十五条 Reporting testing status

Provincial and municipal authorities must report autonomous vehicle road testing information to relevant national agencies twice yearly and make this information publicly available.

第十六条 Demonstration application prerequisites

Applicants seeking to conduct demonstration operations with new or additional vehicles must have completed at least 240 hours or 1000 kilometers of road testing in autonomous mode on the intended route without traffic violations or at-fault accidents. The demonstration area cannot exceed the completed testing area.

第十七条 Demonstration application safety declaration

Demonstration applicants must submit a safety self-declaration confirmed by provincial or municipal authorities, including applicant identity, vehicle details, driver information, application period (not exceeding 18 months), and test areas. The declaration must be accompanied by documentation covering the applicant and vehicle details, road testing records, network security assessments, third-party reviewed demonstration plans, cargo descriptions, and insurance coverage of at least five million yuan per vehicle plus compulsory traffic liability insurance, with additional passenger and accident insurance for applications carrying people.

第十八条 Temporary license plate application

Applicants obtain temporary license plates from traffic police based on the approved safety declaration and supporting documents. The plates' operating range must align with the designated test areas, with validity not exceeding the demonstration period stated in the safety declaration, and may be renewed when expired with a current declaration.

第十九条 Additional vehicle configuration

When requesting to increase the number of vehicles with identical configuration, applicants must explain the additional quantity and necessity, then submit this to the relevant provincial or municipal authorities.

第二十条 Safety declaration updates

When the safety declaration expires or when basic information such as the test driver needs to change, applicants must update the declaration information and submit amendment explanations and supporting materials to provincial or municipal authorities.

第二十一条 Reporting and disclosure requirements

Provincial and municipal authorities must report demonstration application information to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Transport in June and December each year, and publicly disclose this information.

第二十二条 Designated test areas and regions

Provincial and municipal authorities select and publicly announce suitable road segments and areas within their jurisdiction where autonomous vehicles may conduct testing and demonstrations, with appropriate road signage and informational markers installed.

第二十三条 Public notification of testing activities

Provincial and municipal authorities must inform the public through various channels, particularly those near test areas, about the timing, projects, and safety precautions for road testing and demonstration applications.

第二十四条 Compliance with traffic regulations

Test and demonstration vehicles must obtain and display temporary license plates, and both applicants and drivers must comply with traffic laws, follow the approved safety declaration regarding time and location, carry documentation for inspection, and cannot conduct brake performance tests during operations.

第二十五条 Vehicle identification markings

Test and demonstration vehicles must display highly visible markings on the body identifying them as 'autonomous vehicle road test' or 'autonomous vehicle demonstration application' to alert other road users, without disrupting normal traffic.

第二十六条 Driver monitoring requirements

The driver in the vehicle must continuously observe the vehicle's operational status and surroundings, and must promptly intervene if the vehicle is unsuitable for autonomous mode or when the system alerts that manual control is necessary.

第二十七条 Passenger and cargo restrictions

During road testing, only trained test personnel and ballast simulating cargo may be in the vehicle, but during demonstration applications, authorized personnel or cargo for business model exploration may be carried if the people and property owners are informed of risks and safety measures are taken. In both cases, passengers and cargo must not exceed the vehicle's rated capacity and certified weight limit, and hazardous materials are prohibited.

第二十八条 Autonomous mode usage restrictions

Autonomous driving mode may only be used in road segments or areas specified in the safety declaration, and vehicles must operate in manual mode when traveling to or from the test location.

第二十九条 Vehicle modification controls

Unauthorized changes to vehicle software or hardware that could affect its functions or performance are prohibited. When such modifications are necessary, testing entities must promptly provide safety documentation to the local government authority.

第三十条 Reporting obligations

Testing and demonstration entities must submit progress reports to provincial and municipal authorities every six months, and must submit a final report within one month after the testing or demonstration concludes.

第三十一条 Government evaluation and reporting

Provincial and municipal authorities must conduct ongoing evaluation of autonomous vehicle testing and demonstration activities and must report on such activities to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Transport in June and December of each year.

第三十二条 Termination of testing or demonstration

Authorities may terminate testing or demonstration activities when the vehicle does not match its safety declaration, when temporary license plates expire or are revoked, when substantial safety risks are identified, when serious traffic violations occur, or when accidents result in severe injury, death or vehicle damage for which the tested vehicle bears responsibility. Authorities must recover temporary plates and notify traffic police of invalid plates.

第三十三条 Traffic violation enforcement

Traffic violations occurring during testing or demonstration are handled by traffic police who apply current road traffic safety laws to the driver.

第三十四条 Traffic accident liability and penalties

For accidents during testing or demonstration, traffic police determine responsibility under road traffic law, assess compensation liability under applicable law, impose penalties for safety violations, and pursue criminal liability where appropriate.

第三十五条 Traffic accident reporting

Parties must secure accident scenes and alert authorities immediately when traffic accidents occur during testing or demonstration activities. Operators must report all monthly incidents to provincial and municipal authorities, and must file incidents involving serious injury, death or vehicle damage within 24 hours via information systems, with failure to report resulting in up to 24-month suspension of activities. Provincial and municipal authorities must forward serious incidents to the national industrial, public security and transport ministries within 3 working days.

第三十六条 Accident investigation documentation

Within 5 working days of accident determination, operators must submit to provincial and municipal authorities written materials including accident causes, liability findings and full analysis reports. Provincial and municipal authorities must forward these to national industrial, public security and transport ministries within 5 working days.

第三十七条 Definitions and scope

This regulation applies to connected and autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors, controllers and actuators, classified into three levels: conditional automation (driver intervention when requested), high automation (optional intervention in specific environments), and full automation (no human intervention). Road testing and demonstration subjects must be registered legal entities with manufacturing, research, testing and network security capabilities, sufficient civil liability insurance, real-time monitoring and event recording capacity, and self-evaluation procedures; if combined entities conduct demonstration, at least one must have operational service ability. Testing and demonstration drivers must be employed by the subject, hold a valid driving licence with 3+ years experience, have no serious traffic violations in the past year, no alcohol-related driving, no fatal accidents, and be trained in the automated system and emergency response.

第三十八条 Effective date and repeal

The regulation takes effect on 1 September 2021 and repeals the previous 2018 autonomous vehicle testing management specification.