Shenzhen to Implement Revised Rules for Intelligent Connected Vehicles on July 1

A revised amendment to the Regulations on the Administration of Intelligent Connected Vehicles in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone will take effect on July 1 and has recently sparked widespread discussion on social media.

According to Jin10, some online posts interpreted the amendment’s wording on “orderly exploration” of citywide open-road testing and demonstration applications as a move to fully open the city to autonomous robotaxis, and linked it to concerns such as job losses for ride-hailing drivers.

The actual text of Article 17 states that the municipal government may “orderly explore citywide open-road testing and demonstration applications, and explore pilot programs for commercial operations.” Several industry participants said the key to interpreting the provision lies in the phrase “orderly exploration.”

A representative of the Shenzhen Intelligent Connected Transportation Association said the “orderly” approach is reflected first in the gradual nature of the legislative authorization. At present, intelligent connected vehicles are limited to testing and demonstration, and the city level has not issued policies for commercial-operation pilots.

The representative said the clause provides a legal basis for the government to expand testing across a broader scope, but the timing of any opening and which areas would be included would still depend on infrastructure conditions and safety assessment results, advancing step by step. The representative added that “orderly” also refers to a rollout pace that advances multiple scenarios in parallel.