The International Organization for Standardization has released a new international standard for autonomous driving system test scenarios led by China.

ISO 34505:2025 outlines the evaluation process for test scenarios of autonomous driving systems, clarifies the requirements for evaluation indicators, such as exposure, complexity, and criticality, and defines the general methods and characteristics of test cases, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced yesterday.

The new international standard was initiated in September 2022 and led by a team of experts from China and Germany, aiming to fill the gap in global standards for self-driving system test scenarios, Yicai learned. It will provide a unified foundation for the research and development of autonomous driving technology and help promote the globalization process of Chinese automakers.

The release of ISO 34505:2025 is of great significance to China's automotive industry, Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, told Yicai. "With the rapid development of autonomous driving technology and the intensification of international competition, it will be helpful for Chinese automakers to go global if we gain a certain advantage in standard formulation," he said.

Even though some Chinese cities have initiated road testing for self-driving vehicles, the testing of high-level autonomous driving technology still needs to be carried out in a simulated environment, so the new standard provides a solid basis for this, an industry insider told Yicai.

Many autonomous driving companies are carrying out pilot projects that also include foreign cities, and automakers' demand for global intelligent driving R&D is also growing, so the industry needs a unified standard for domestic and international development, the insider added.

In the next step, the MIIT will organize relevant institutions, including the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, to deeply participate in the revision of automotive international standards and continue to enhance the country's participation in and contribution to the formulation of international automotive standards, the ministry noted.