Shanghai has further expanded its autonomous driving test zones in the Pudong New Area, adding 583 roads totaling 758.62 kilometers in length to the existing network.

With this addition, Pudong now has nearly 1,000 km of roads for autonomous vehicle testing.

The newly designated zones, announced by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Transport and other departments, cover three key areas: Zhangjiang, the World Expo and Huamu.

Zhangjiang now has 238 roads covering 329.10 km, the World Expo includes 261 roads spanning 340.70 km and Huamu features 84 roads covering 88.82 km.

Since 2022, Pudong has gradually opened its roads for autonomous driving trials – starting with 12 roads covering 29.3 km, followed by 205 km added in 2024.

The expanded network now supports comprehensive testing across all vehicle types, transportation modes, risk levels and development stages.

The latest expansion also includes upgrades to road signage, markings and roadside infrastructure, along with the integration of video monitoring and data recording systems.

The initiative builds on Shanghai's efforts to create a "globally leading high-level autonomous driving pioneer zone".

It follows the release of the Implementation Rules of the Regulations on Promoting the Innovative Application of Driverless Intelligent Connected Vehicles in Pudong New Area in March 2023 – a significant step towards legalizing autonomous driving in the district.

Since then, Pudong has witnessed a surge in autonomous driving companies that are regularly conducting tests.

The expansion of test zones is expected to accelerate the development of the intelligent connected vehicle industry, providing more real-world testing opportunities for autonomous vehicle companies.

Source: Shanghai Observer