(Yicai) March 30 -- Beijing will lead the nation in developing dedicated insurance products for intelligent vehicles, as smart driving technologies speed up their market debut, the capital city’s financial regulators said yesterday. The initiative is designed to meet growing public demand for coverage in unmanned driving and to support innovation in related technologies.

A team of experts led by the China Insurance Industry Association will develop these products, a senior official from the Beijing Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau said at the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference.

The goal is to clearly define terms, standardize contract clauses and expand coverage so that the insurance can be applied across all intelligent connected new energy vehicles from Levels Two to Four, he said. Level Two autonomous driving still requires human oversight, while Level Four allows cars to operate autonomously within specific areas.

The insurance products will be rolled out in batches as they mature and the Beijing Insurance Industry Association will announce which automakers and specific vehicle models are eligible for each batch, the official said.

Beijing’s financial regulator has set up a special working group with the China Insurance Industry Association, the China Actuarial Professionals Association and major insurance companies to finalize contract clauses, calculate premium rates and ensure fair pricing.

In addition, the bureau is collaborating with the China Banking and Insurance Information Technology Service to build a cross-industry data exchange system which will help insurance companies upgrade their IT systems to support the smooth issuance of policies as well as efficient sales and claims for these exclusive products, the official added.

The official stressed that intelligent driving insurance is not all-purpose insurance. Drivers must still use assisted driving features safely. Insurance can only help cover financial losses and does not exempt drivers from their legal liabilities.

Recent guidance from the Supreme People’s Court clearly stipulates that even when assisted driving functions are active, drivers are still fully responsible for driving safety. Safe driving remains the driver’s top responsibility.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor