China moves to legalize self-driving cars on public roads

China's parliament has received a bill proposing amendments to the country's road traffic law that would permit self-driving vehicles to operate on public roads, the state news agency Xinhua reported.

The proposed legislation would add a new chapter to the existing traffic law specifically addressing autonomous vehicles. It defines what constitutes autonomous driving and clarifies the functions of driver-assistance systems, distinguishing them from fully automated control.

Who is responsible

A key element of the bill concerns liability. Under the proposed amendments, manufacturers or importers of self-driving vehicles would be held responsible for traffic violations committed while a vehicle is operating in automatic driving mode.

Vehicles that are driven manually, or that rely solely on driver-assistance systems rather than full autonomy, would continue to be governed by the current traffic rules, with no changes to existing responsibility.

The bill has not yet been passed, but its introduction signals China's intent to establish a clear legal framework for autonomous vehicles on its roads in the near future.