It looks like China is pumping the brakes on its self-driving car ambitions. After a fatal accident involving a Xiaomi SU7 earlier this year, regulators are taking a much more cautious approach. I think it's a smart move; rushing headfirst into unproven tech is never a good idea.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) only approved two out of nine proposals from automakers looking to sell more advanced self-driving vehicles. And even those approvals are heavily restricted, only allowing for testing on specific highway stretches in Beijing and Chongqing.

Limited Approvals and Strict Rules

These aren't exactly green lights for fully autonomous vehicles, folks. The rules are incredibly strict. For example, the approved vehicles can't even change lanes while the computer is in control. And outside those designated highway areas, a human driver *has* to take over. It feels like a baby step rather than a giant leap forward.

What's even more interesting is that several Chinese automakers thought they were in the clear to sell Level 3 vehicles this year. Level 3 means the car can handle most driving situations, but a human needs to be ready to take over at any moment. Some companies even started mass-producing cars with the necessary cameras and hardware for Level 3. Ouch. Now, it seems those cars will be sold with downgraded Level 2 software, which still requires the driver to keep their hands on the wheel. It's a big setback for those manufacturers, and it definitely shows the importance of not counting your chickens before they hatch.

The fatal crash involving the Xiaomi SU7 was a major turning point. The car, traveling at 72 mph with its assisted-driving system engaged, crashed into a construction barrier despite issuing a warning. This incident definitely raised some serious questions about the safety and reliability of these systems.

Furthermore, after the crash, officials banned car companies from using terms like smart driving or autonomous driving in their marketing materials if the cars only have assisted-driving tech. I think that’s a good call; it's about time companies stopped overhyping their capabilities and misleading consumers.

Public concern is also growing because state media is reporting that self-driving systems from Chinese companies aren't as safe as Tesla's. In tests, less than half of the Chinese vehicles with Level 2 systems could avoid crashes near trucks at construction sites at night. Meanwhile, Tesla vehicles reportedly did well in those same scenarios. That's not a great look for the local industry.

Ultimately, this pause in China's self-driving push highlights the complexities and challenges of developing truly autonomous vehicles. Safety has to be the top priority, and it's clear that more testing and development are needed before these systems can be safely deployed on a large scale. We all want self-driving cars to become a reality, but not at the expense of human lives.