China Releases First Mandatory Safety Standard for L3 and L4 Autonomous Driving

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has officially released GB 44721—2026, the country's first mandatory national safety standard for Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving systems, which will take effect on July 1, 2027. This standard upgrades the previous voluntary guidelines (GB/T 44721—2024) into a mandatory regulatory framework. By establishing a unified safety baseline, this standard provides clear regulatory compliance for automakers and tech companies, accelerating the commercial deployment of advanced autonomous vehicles in the world's largest auto market. It also shifts safety responsibility directly onto manufacturers, ensuring a structured and safer transition to driverless technologies. The standard applies to M-class (passenger) and N-class (cargo) vehicles, requiring autonomous systems to perform at least as safely as a competent and attentive human driver. Major industry players, including BYD, Nio, Geely, Xiaomi, and Huawei's Yinwang, participated in drafting the regulations.