A new strategic blueprint, jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology along with eight other national agencies, outlines a major push for the intelligent connected vehicle sector. The "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry" sets a clear target for the year 2030, aiming for the large-scale deployment of cars equipped with automated driving capabilities.

Under this plan, highly automated driving is expected to become operational on key thoroughfares, including highways, major urban expressways, and select city roads. The framework also stresses that the safety performance of vehicles equipped with autonomous driving systems must significantly surpass that of human drivers.

To accelerate progress, the initiative calls for expanded demonstration projects across diverse scenarios, encompassing self-driving passenger cars, public buses, long-haul freight operations, urban delivery services, and specialized tasks. Furthermore, the authorities will systematically advance the market access and road deployment of intelligent connected vehicles while also promoting pilot programs for functional unmanned vehicles.