China has issued a long-term roadmap through 2030 that could pave way to commercializing highly or fully autonomous driving vehicles as early as 2021, Reuters reported citing an official on Wednesday.

The 450-page plan that was issued by the Society of Automotive Engineers of China (SAEC) together with a government-sanctioned industry committee aims to implement a consensus within China's car market to rapidly move toward producing and selling self-driving cars.

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"We must as quickly as possible form a common understanding on smart connected vehicle technology," the report said.

Furthermore, it presented a roadmap for the development of autonomous technologies in three distinct five-year periods, according to Reuters.

Between 2021 and 2025, the blueprint aims to introduce vehicles that are capable of driving themselves in nearly all situations. Then by 2026 to 2030, other forms of autonomous or assisted driving should be in every car.

The final phase following 2030 was reportedly left open, without backing a single autonomous technology or standard for vehicles to communicate with each other, the Hybrid Cars reported.

Earlier this year, officials said that a draft will be published to set out technical standards such as common language for cars to communicate and regulatory guidelines, Reuters reported.

Last July, China has stepped on a break for car makers testing autonomous cars on the country's highway until a common rule has been established. Although the moratorium on highway testing could trigger several setbacks, it seems like China wants to put the safety of the public first by stipulating ground rules for manufacturers over innovation of self-driving cars.

TagsAutonomous Cars, Driverless Cars, Self-driving cars, Society of Automotive Engineers of China, roadmap, china