Volkswagen and Xpeng can now test self-driving systems on public roads in China, a sign Beijing wants the technology used on a bigger scale.
Two big carmakers just got permission to put self-driving technology on real roads in China. Volkswagen AG and Xpeng Inc. both received approvals to trial their autonomous driving systems on public roads, according to Bloomberg Technology.
Until now, the story is mostly about rules. Chinese authorities approved trials for both companies after a safety review of self-driving technology. Autonomous driving means a car handles some or all of the driving on its own, without a person controlling every move.
The timing matters. The approvals suggest officials want self-driving cars to be used on a larger scale, not just in small tests. That is how the report describes it: a renewed push.
Carmakers are the most direct group. China is the world's biggest car market, so winning approval there can help a company move faster than rivals. Investors who follow the auto industry will also watch which brands get the green light.
Everyday drivers and pedestrians in China may eventually share roads with these test vehicles. People elsewhere may feel the effect later, as lessons from China shape what other carmakers build.
The material available leaves many questions open. Several details were not provided:
Watch for more approvals for other carmakers and for details on where the trials run. If the push for larger-scale use continues, trials like these are likely an early step. Nothing in the report says when ordinary buyers could use such systems.
China is opening public roads to self-driving tests from Volkswagen and Xpeng, a sign that the race to deploy the technology is speeding up.
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