China Writes Autonomous Driving Into National Law

China is moving autonomous-driving liability into law, and that means makers and importers answer for violations committed while the system is engaged. Evidence, data access and recall duties now sit inside every smart-EV contract, and more laws on accidents, insurance and data are coming.

The amendment had its first reading on 25 August: 9 chapters, 170 articles, most on smart driving and data. By end-June China had 476 million vehicles, 48.97 million NEVs, 567 million drivers, 70.5% L2 fitment and the first L3 road trials. Smart driving is now a compliance item.

The chapter separates autonomous vehicles, which handle all driving tasks inside their design envelope, from driver assistance. Unactivated AVs count as ordinary cars; activation outside the envelope must be impossible and tampering is banned. Compulsory insurance is coming; exporters need an ODD statement per vehicle and insurance priced into landed cost.

The liability clause changes the business: violations while the system is active fall on maker or importer, which must prove the system was not at fault. On a $100,000 smart EV, one dispute can mean months of testing, a possible recall and costs near a third of the price. Get the operating-conditions list, an incident data channel and an indemnity clause into the contract.

Act this quarter: get a written statement of design operating conditions, secure an incident data channel and add a liability clause covering resale. Do not order the next batch without a documented compliance path for your market — renegotiate now, before the new rules take effect.

What certifications are required to import used cars from China?
Requirements vary by destination (e.g. EAEU needs SBKTS/OTTC, GCC for the Middle East). EZ Auto handles compliant documents and certification per the destination customs, confirming clearance before shipment to avoid port hold-ups.

What recent policy changes affect Chinese vehicle exports?
EV subsidies are phasing out while export licensing and shipping capacity fluctuate. EZ Auto tracks destination tariffs and certification changes and updates them in the News section for procurement decisions.

Can an individual buy a car directly from China for export?
Possible, but with document and customs hurdles. Most buyers order through a licensed exporter like EZ Auto, which handles the contract, export declaration and destination paperwork; you only handle pickup and local registration.

What export documents are needed for used cars?
Core documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, export customs declaration, bill of lading and the destination's import clearance papers. EZ Auto prepares the full set before shipment to ensure smooth clearance abroad and avoid demurrage.

Do destination countries limit the age of imported vehicles?
New cars are mostly unrestricted; used cars often face an age cap (e.g. some Middle East and Africa markets require within 5-8 years). EZ Auto checks the destination's age rule before shipping and screens out non-compliant units to avoid rejection at port.

This article is published by EZ Auto. EZ Auto (Cheyixing Automobile Import & Export) specializes in exporting Chinese vehicles — new, used and parts — serving Latin America, Central Asia & CIS, Africa, the Middle East and the EU, with order-based sourcing, inspection with photo report, export documentation and ocean freight in one place.