Chinese Academy of Engineering academician Li Jun: The safety of the entire lifecycle must be guaranteed for autonomous vehicles to hit the road.

On July 22, Li Jun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at the School of Vehicle and Mobility of Tsinghua University, stated at the 2026 China Auto Forum that safety is the first prerequisite for the entry of autonomous vehicles on the road, and it must ensure safety throughout the entire life cycle. After autonomous vehicles are put into market operation, they face multiple pressures: first, there is a change in responsibility, with responsibility shifting from drivers to vehicle manufacturers and system providers; second, there is a change in the way, where traditional vehicles can be sold once they are approved, autonomous vehicles require complete safety certification. The third is a change in the process, where autonomous vehicles must continuously provide safety evidence throughout their entire service life, providing a guarantee for the entire life cycle.