China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released on Dec. 27 a sprawling roadmap for autonomous vehicle development that named an “Internet of Vehicles Development Commission” to lead work on AV policy.
Why it matters: AV leadership by this commission may indicate a more protectionist approach in China, given incentives to carry out President Xi’s goal of limiting reliance on foreign “core technologies.”
Background: The commission's head, Miao Wei, is the Minister of MIIT and the architect of the Made in China 2025 plan, which set detailed targets for replacing foreign technology with domestic substitutes. The plan has drawn international criticism for acting as a barrier to trade and violating WTO rules, and eliminating its targets has been a goal of the U.S. in bilateral trade negotiations.
Details: MIIT regulates a range of tech-related industries as well as the auto sector, often with a nurturing, protectionist hand. Its leadership of the commission subordinates other agencies that regulate the AV sector, like the Ministries of Transportation and Public Security.
What to watch: Minister Miao, who is also the former CEO of state-owned Dongfeng Motors, recently highlighted several priorities for the commission:
The bottom line: Both American and Chinese officials increasingly see technology as a zero-sum game. But U.S. efforts to limit sales of AV tech to China through export controls and Chinese limitations on the foreign use of China's mapping data won't help vehicle development in either country. If AV development suffers, companies and consumers all lose.
Patrick Lozada is a director in the China practice of Albright Stonebridge, a strategic advisory and commercial diplomacy firm.
