Two mandatory national standards for L2 combined driving assist systems and L3/L4 autonomous driving systems have been successively released, clarifying safety requirements for different levels of driving automation.
Core Content of L3/L4 National Standard
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released the Safety Requirements for Autonomous Driving Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (GB 44721-2026), which will take effect on July 1, 2027. This is China’s first mandatory national standard for L3 and L4 autonomous driving.
The standard sets clear requirements for functional safety, expected functional safety, and cybersecurity of autonomous driving systems, including: multi-sensor fusion becoming a mandatory requirement; driver takeover monitoring systems must be equipped; and all-scenario navigate-on-autopilot functions must meet minimum performance thresholds.
Impact on Consumers
The safety baseline for intelligent driving in premium family vehicles is undergoing a major upgrade in 2026. With the hardware and functional thresholds for L3/L4 autonomous driving clearly defined, consumers can more clearly understand the true capabilities of different vehicles’ intelligent driving features.
Industry Shakeout Effect
From recommended to mandatory, the standard introduces numerous hard measures. Previously, automakers’ definitions of advanced intelligent driving were chaotic; now there are clear answers. This will accelerate industry consolidation, putting greater pressure on companies lacking core technology accumulation.
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