UN approved first global technical regulation on automated driving systems, co-led by China

The world's first global technical regulation on automated driving systems has been formally approved, marking a major step toward a unified framework for the safe deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies across the globe.

The regulation, known as ADS GTR, was jointly led by China, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Japan. It was adopted this week at a meeting in Geneva following a vote by all contracting parties to the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, according to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The new rule sets core technical requirements for automated driving system products and outlines manufacturer obligations in areas such as safety management processes, product safety documentation, end‑to‑end testing and validation frameworks, and post‑deployment vehicle safety. It also prescribes corresponding audit and evaluation methods, creating a comprehensive regulatory architecture that spans the entire product lifecycle.

As the first global technical regulation specifically addressing automated driving systems, it provides a common foundation for the orderly and secure roll‑out of autonomous driving technologies – a milestone that is expected to accelerate industrialization and drive the intelligent transformation of the global automotive sector.

The approval comes as autonomous driving technologies are rapidly evolving and entering commercial use worldwide. In China, the penetration rate of new vehicles equipped with advanced driver-assistance systems has already exceeded 60 percent. Yet, until now, no unified set of technical standards or regulations existed at the international level, with major economies advancing their own approaches independently.

China played a leading and facilitating role throughout the regulatory development process. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology organized Chinese research institutes and industry partners to contribute dozens of technical proposals and share real‑world testing data from closed‑course, public‑road and vehicle‑infrastructure collaborative trials.

At the same time, China has accelerated the development of its own mandatory national standard for automated driving systems. That standard has now been finalized and is undergoing approval procedures. It fully aligns with the core technical content of the ADS GTR, while further refining the requirements for Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving systems in light of China's industrial conditions and regulatory needs. Specifically, it sets clearer safety baselines for different automation levels, strengthens user training and disclosure mechanisms to prevent misuse and over‑reliance, and innovatively introduces standardized test scenarios built on the internationally accepted "multi‑pillar" approach – providing practical support for the implementation of the global regulation.

Looking ahead, the ministry said it will continue to deepen its engagement in international standard‑setting for intelligent connected vehicles, accelerate the promulgation of the domestic mandatory standard, and promote greater alignment between international regulations and national norms.