China’s capital Beijing has passed new regulations aimed at promoting the use of autonomous driving technology within the city.
Slated to come into effect on 1 April 2025, these regulations are expected to pave the way for the operation of driverless public buses and taxis.
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The regulations, which were passed by the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, are designed to bolster technological innovation and industrial growth in the autonomous vehicle sector.
They provide a comprehensive regulatory framework, covering areas such as infrastructure planning and construction, traffic management on roads, and safety assurance for vehicles equipped with Level 3 and higher autonomous systems.
Since the inauguration of China’s first high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone in September 2020, Beijing has expanded its intelligent infrastructure, covering an area of 600km2.
Chinese authorities have actively approved trials for self-driving technology, with at least 19 cities conducting robotaxi and robobus tests, Reuters reported in August.
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By GlobalDataAlso, US-listed Pony.ai intends to increase its robotaxi fleet from 250 to over 1,000 by 2026.
Other key players exploring the robotaxi market in China include WeRide, AutoX, and SAIC Motor.
WeRide has secured $440.5m through a US IPO and private placement, marking its position as the world’s first publicly listed company dedicated to universal autonomous driving technology.
The China-based startup issued 7.74 million American depositary shares at $15.50 each, raising $120m in the initial public offering (IPO).
US EV giant Tesla also plans to introduce full self-driving (FSD) in China by the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approval, and aims to begin producing its own robotaxi in 2026.
