China to Hold Carmakers Liable for Autonomous Vehicle Violations

China’s top legislature, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, is slated to review an amendment to the Road Traffic Safety Law that would create a dedicated chapter for autonomous vehicles and advanced-driving systems. The draft clarifies definitions of “autonomous vehicles” and “driver-assistance functions” and introduces a liability framework that could hold manufacturers responsible for traffic violations that occur while an autonomous system is engaged.

South China Morning Post

Current regulations treat all vehicles under the same traffic rules, leaving a legal gray area for self-driving cars. The lack of clear liability has been cited as a major hurdle to broader commercial deployment of autonomous models in China. By explicitly linking responsibility to the activation of autonomous functions, the amendment aims to resolve that uncertainty and pave the way for wider market entry.

South China Morning Post

State-run news agency Xinhua reported that the amended law would keep vehicles operating with autonomous systems switched off subject to existing traffic rules, while those with the systems active could see manufacturers held accountable for accidents and rule violations. Xinhua did not specify when a final verdict on the revised law will be issued. Analysts noted that the change would allow carmakers to both build and sell autonomous cars, aligning legal responsibility with commercial incentives.

South China Morning Post

If enacted, the liability provisions are expected to accelerate the introduction of autonomous models. The shift could also influence global manufacturers seeking to enter the Chinese market, as compliance with the new liability standards would become a prerequisite for sales.

South China Morning Post

• “As they are required to shoulder the responsibilities for the cars’ operations on the roads, automotive companies will also be allowed to build and sell cars of this kind to attract consumers,” — Gao Shen, an independent analyst in Shanghai

South China Morning Post