China’s Most Updated Autonomous Driving Framework Makes Both Carmakers & Operators (Owners Included) Liable in a Crash - CleanTechnica

China has established one of the world’s clearest and most comprehensive legal frameworks for liability in autonomous vehicle crashes, particularly for Level-4 and Level-5 self-driving cars. Recent municipal regulations in Beijing and Shanghai, supported by national guidelines, shift liability away from human occupants toward manufacturers, fleet operators, and private vehicle owners. Beijing’s regulation, effective April 1, 2025, mandates that manufacturers bear primary responsibility for vehicle quality, system reliability, and software management, while operators of autonomous fleets must ensure operational safety, monitor vehicles continuously, and report data to authorities. This framework explicitly places manufacturers and operators at the forefront of liability investigations following crashes. Shanghai’s regulatory approach complements Beijing’s by requiring companies deploying autonomous vehicles to have proper transport operator qualifications and safety management systems. In the event of an accident caused by a self-driving vehicle in autonomous mode, the operator is initially liable for compensation to victims and may then seek recourse from manufacturers or other parties. This clear liability chain aligns autonomous vehicle operations