From June 22 to 26, 2026, the 199th session of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (UN/WP.29) was held in Geneva, Switzerland. At the meeting, the United Nations Global Technical Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS GTR), jointly led by China, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Japan, was formally adopted following a vote by all contracting parties. The regulation establishes core technical requirements for automated driving system products and sets forth obligations for manufacturers regarding safety management processes, product safety documentation, end-to-end testing and validation frameworks, and post-deployment vehicle safety. It also includes corresponding audit and evaluation methodologies, thereby creating a comprehensive regulatory framework covering the entire product lifecycle. As the world’s first global technical regulation specifically addressing automated driving systems, it aims to provide a unified foundation for the safe and orderly deployment of autonomous driving technologies. Since 2018, WP.29 has established the Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA), with China serving as Vice-Chair. Under GRVA, two subgroups were subsequently formed: one on Functional Requirements for Automated Vehicles (FRAV), co-chaired by China, and another on Validation Methods for Automated Driving (VMAD). Over five years, these groups produced a series of technical outcomes that laid the groundwork for the regulation. Later, an Automated Driving Systems Informal Working Group (ADS IWG) was created, which, after more than two years and over 20 meetings, finalized a consensus-based regulatory text acceptable to all parties. China played a leading role throughout the regulatory development process. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology organized entities including China Automotive Technology & Research Center Co., Ltd. and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology to actively participate in all GRVA and ADS meetings, host multiple specialized sessions, and lead the drafting of technical background documents, regulatory principles, and technical justifications. Additionally, China established a UN Expert Group on the Global Technical Regulation for Automated Driving, conducted extensive technical research and analysis, submitted dozens of technical proposals, and shared test data from closed-course facilities, public roads, and vehicle-infrastructure cooperative environments. Concurrently, China has accelerated the development of mandatory national standards for automated driving systems domestically. The standard has now been finalized and is undergoing approval procedures. Fully aligned with the core technical content of the ADS GTR, it further refines technical requirements for Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving systems based on China’s industrial realities and regulatory needs. It clearly defines safety baselines, enhances user training and disclosure mechanisms, and innovatively proposes standardized test scenarios building upon the international “multi-pillar approach.” Moving forward, relevant Chinese authorities will continue engaging in international coordination on standards and regulations for intelligent and connected vehicles, expedite the implementation of domestic mandatory national standards, promote alignment between international regulations and national standards, and simultaneously advance road testing demonstrations, pilot applications of “vehicle-road-cloud integration,” production access trials, and on-road operation pilots. These efforts aim to refine technical standards and regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe and compliant deployment of automated driving products.