China Unveils 2030 Plan for Mass Self-Driving Vehicle Rollout

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released a comprehensive five-year plan targeting the large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicles on highways, urban expressways, and selected city roads by 2030. The plan, announced on Thursday, September 11, 2026, sets a requirement that autonomous driving systems must achieve safety standards significantly higher than those of human drivers. The roadmap, developed jointly with eight other government departments, outlines a vision for China to solidify its position as a leading global automotive power. It sets aggressive targets for the adoption of new energy vehicles, which include battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. By 2030, NEVs are expected to account for 70% of new passenger car sales and 40% of new commercial vehicle sales in the country. To support this transition, the plan introduces an "AI Automotive" program to advance smart vehicle technology. It also calls for the expansion of trials for autonomous buses, robotaxis, and long-haul logistics, alongside upgrades to vehicle-road-cloud integration systems. A key component of the strategy is industry consolidation.