China Sets 2030 Goal for Large-Scale Rollout of Self-Driving Vehicles

China's industry ministry on Thursday announced a roadmap aimed at strengthening the country's smart electric vehicle sector, with large-scale deployment of autonomous-driving vehicles set as a goal for 2030.

Under the plan, self-driving vehicles would be introduced on highways, urban expressways and selected city roads. The ministry said automated-driving vehicles should reach safety levels exceeding those of human drivers.

The roadmap also sets an industrial ambition: China intends to develop several automakers that rank among the world's top ten by sales. It aims to raise the global appeal of Chinese auto brands and strengthen the country's voice in international automotive standards.

To support these goals, the ministry plans tighter rules covering vehicle production, road safety, self-driving technology and software upgrades. It will also explore special approval pathways for key components and low-volume vehicles.

Oversight of vehicle and battery production capacity is set to increase, with measures to curb overinvestment, encourage industry consolidation and phase out inefficient capacity.

Competition rules would be sharpened through stronger antitrust enforcement, improved product-quality supervision and efforts to promote fair competition, including curbing inappropriate incentives offered by local governments.

The ministry also intends to issue guidelines helping automakers comply with regulations when expanding overseas, and to encourage deeper cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies in vehicle and key-component research, investment and global market expansion.