China is targeting the large-scale deployment of self-driving vehicles by 2030 as part of a new roadmap aimed at strengthening its smart electric vehicle industry and expanding the global reach of Chinese automakers.
The country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology unveiled the roadmap on Thursday, outlining measures to accelerate the development and adoption of autonomous-driving technology.
Under the plan, vehicles with self-driving capabilities are expected to be deployed on a large scale by 2030, with automated driving technology gradually introduced on highways, urban expressways and selected city roads.
The ministry said autonomous vehicles should eventually achieve higher safety levels than human-driven vehicles, while regulators will strengthen oversight of self-driving technology, vehicle production, road safety and software updates.
China also plans to develop several automakers capable of ranking among the world’s 10 largest manufacturers by sales, while increasing the international appeal of Chinese vehicle brands.
The roadmap further seeks to give China a stronger role in shaping international automotive standards as the country expands its presence in global markets.
The ministry said it would tighten supervision of vehicle and battery production capacity to address overinvestment and excess capacity. It also plans to encourage consolidation within the industry and eliminate inefficient production capacity.
Regulators will strengthen antitrust enforcement and product-quality supervision while promoting fair competition and curbing inappropriate incentives offered by local governments to attract automobile manufacturers.
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The government also plans to introduce guidelines to help Chinese automakers comply with regulations when expanding overseas.
In addition, China will encourage greater cooperation between domestic and foreign companies in vehicle and key-component research, investment and expansion into international markets.
The roadmap comes as Chinese automakers and technology companies continue to expand their work on autonomous-driving systems, including robotaxi services and advanced driver-assistance technologies.
The move is expected to further intensify competition in the global electric and autonomous vehicle markets as China seeks to establish itself as a major force in next-generation transportation.
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Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
