Mandatory Safety Standards for Autonomous Driving to Take Effect in 2027

[Policy Update] Mandatory national safety standards for autonomous driving will take effect on July 1, 2027, covering Level 3 and Level 4 vehicles.

Key Development: Standard Does Not Mandate LiDAR; Focuses on Perception Performance

The standard titled "Safety Requirements for Automated Driving Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles" does not require specific sensors such as LiDAR. Instead, it mandates that the system must be capable of recognizing operational conditions, anticipating risks, and handling scenarios involving occlusions and blind spots.

Strategic Foundation: Introduction of a 'Safety Case' Framework, Benchmarking Experienced Human Drivers

For the first time, the new standard requires companies to establish a Safety Case, demonstrating system safety through a process of "claim → argumentation → evidence." It explicitly states that the performance of autonomous driving systems must be no worse than that of a competent and attentive human driver.

Industry Impact: Intensified Competition Between Vision-Based and LiDAR-Based Approaches

Although media reports have mistakenly claimed that Level 4 systems must include LiDAR, XPeng Vice President Yu Tao has publicly refuted this. In reality, the standard emphasizes functional safety rather than prescribing specific hardware solutions, thereby leaving room for diverse technological approaches.