The L3 national standard has arrived, and the era of unregulated intelligent driving is over. In early August, 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.
From Recommended to Mandatory
Previously, automakers’ definitions of advanced intelligent driving were chaotic; now there are clear answers. From recommended to mandatory, the standard introduces numerous hard measures. Recommended specifications relied on manufacturer self-discipline, while mandatory national standards have legal binding force — non-compliant models will be prohibited from market sales.
Core Standard Requirements
Multi-sensor fusion becomes mandatory: L3 and above systems must simultaneously be equipped with cameras, millimeter-wave radar, and LiDAR — single-sensor solutions are not permitted. Driver takeover monitoring systems must be equipped: monitoring driver status through in-vehicle cameras to ensure timely response when manual takeover is needed. All-scenario navigate-on-autopilot functions must meet minimum performance thresholds: including highway and urban road navigation assist functions that must pass standardized safety tests.
Impact on Automakers
The standard’s implementation will accelerate industry consolidation. Automakers with full-stack self-development capabilities will benefit from the competitive barriers created by elevated standards, while those relying on supplier solutions will face rising costs and technology adaptation pressures. A wave of hardware upgrades is expected before the standard takes effect.
Consumer Benefits
With unified standards, consumers can more clearly compare the intelligent driving capabilities of different models without being confused by various marketing claims. L3 autonomous driving means that in specific scenarios, drivers can legally delegate driving tasks to the system, and accident liability will be borne by the automaker.
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