In late January/early February 2026, China rolled out major updates to automotive data governance that directly impact autonomous and connected vehicles. On **January 30, 2026**, eight ministries (led by MIIT and CAC ) jointly issued the **Guidelines for Security of Automotive Data Cross-Border Transfer (2026 Edition)**, effective immediately. This refines earlier rules under the Data Security Law, Cybersecurity Law, and PIPL , providing scenario-based clarity for cross-border flows in the auto sector—treated as a pilot for broader global data cooperation. Complementing this, in mid-February 2026, MIIT released a draft for mandatory **safety standards on autonomous driving systems** ( Intelligent Connected Vehicles – Safety Requirements for Autonomous Driving Systems ), proposed effective July 1, 2027 (with public comments ongoing). Key: mandatory **Data Storage System for Automated Driving ( DSSAD )** — a "black box" compliant with January 2026 national standards — plus str...
China Tightens 2026 AV Data Rules: Cross-Border Logging & Storage Mandates — Global Ripple for Tesla & BYD
In late January/early February 2026, China rolled out major updates to automotive data governance that directly impact autonomous and connected vehicles. On **January 30, 2026**, eight ministries (led by MIIT and CAC ) jointly issued the **Guidelines for Security of Automotive Data Cross-Border Transfer (2026 Edition)**, effective immediately. This refines earlier rules under the Data Security Law, Cybersecurity Law, and PIPL , providing scenario-based clarity for cross-border flows in the auto sector—treated as a pilot for broader global data cooperation. Complementing this, in mid-February 2026, MIIT released a draft for mandatory **safety standards on autonomous driving systems** ( Intelligent Connected Vehicles – Safety Requirements for Autonomous Driving Systems ), proposed effective July 1, 2027 (with public comments ongoing). Key: mandatory **Data Storage System for Automated Driving ( DSSAD )** — a "black box" compliant with January 2026 national standards — plus str...