December 25, 2025 | 01:39 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China's ambition to flood the roads with self-driving cars seems to have been put on hold after a fatal crash involving the technology. The Chinese government is reportedly postponing its plans for mass production of autonomous vehicles due to safety concerns.
Citing a report from Gizmodo on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, this move comes after regulators concluded that the current technology is not mature enough to ensure safety on public roads without driver supervision. Despite limited trials being conducted, minor yet significant incidents remain a major concern.
This policy shift shows a more cautious approach from the Chinese government. Rather than aggressively pursuing the goal of becoming a global leader in autonomous technology without compromise, they are now prioritizing the refinement of regulatory frameworks and rigorous safety standards before allowing mass adoption.
This decision certainly hits leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in China, such as BYD and NIO, hard, as they have heavily invested in the technology to compete with Tesla. This delay forces them to refocus on refining advanced driver assistance systems at Level 2+, which still require drivers to remain vigilant and in control.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the competition in self-driving car technology continues with similar challenges, as companies like Waymo and Cruise also face strict regulatory oversight following a series of safety incidents. Analysts speculate that the delay in China sends a strong signal to the global automotive industry that the road to fully autonomous vehicles is long and winding.
Read: Gas-Loving Trump Cedes Electric Car Market to China
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