China's industry ministry has taken steps to address concerns regarding data protection and cybersecurity in the realm of autonomous vehicles by releasing a set of draft technical standards. These proposed regulations aim to enhance data protection as the use of intelligent vehicles becomes increasingly prevalent.

One significant requirement in the new standards is the prohibition of smart vehicles from transmitting data directly overseas. Instead, they must use domestic cloud services for data transfers. This regulation seeks to ensure that sensitive data from smart vehicles remains secure and within China's borders.

In addition, the draft technical standards mandate that vehicles with autonomous driving capabilities have data storage systems in place to evaluate liability in the event of accidents. This requirement emphasises the importance of accountability and transparency in the development and operation of autonomous vehicles.

Since 2018, China has implemented nationwide guidelines for testing autonomous vehicles on public roads. These guidelines set forth requirements for testing, such as conducting initial tests in non-public zones and performing road tests only on designated streets. Safety drivers must also be present in test vehicles to take control in unexpected situations.