On January 7, 2026, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, and the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau jointly rolled out the 'Model Speed Smart Travel' Action Plan for Shanghai's High-Level Autonomous Driving Pioneer Zone. This initiative is designed to expedite the development of Shanghai's high-level autonomous driving pioneer zone and facilitate the swift conversion of autonomous driving technological innovations into industrial prowess.

The plan envisions that by 2027, high-level autonomous driving application scenarios will witness widespread adoption, with public service platforms effectively bolstering industry innovation. Cutting-edge technologies and industrial scale are projected to attain global leadership, culminating in the formation of an internationally competitive and influential intelligent connected vehicle industrial cluster. Furthermore, it aims to establish a globally leading high-level autonomous driving pioneer zone.

Regarding application scenarios, the plan delves into pioneering business operation models, scaling up the deployment of L4 autonomous driving technology in areas like intelligent public transportation, intelligent taxis, and intelligent heavy trucks. It anticipates achieving over 6 million passenger trips and over 800,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of cargo transportation.

Concurrently, the plan outlines strategies such as constructing an autonomous driving digital twin training ground, refining the autonomous driving data monitoring platform, and systematically expanding autonomous driving open areas.

In terms of industrial ecology, the plan undertakes key technology research projects, orchestrating research and development endeavors for software and hardware products, as well as technical solutions, including in-vehicle high-computing-power chips and in-vehicle operating systems. It also champions collaboration among universities, research institutes, new-type R&D institutions, and pivotal enterprises in industry-university-research partnerships focused on cutting-edge technologies like intelligent driving large models.

Moreover, the plan proposes safeguard measures, including amplifying policy support, bolstering financial backing, intensifying talent recruitment and cultivation, and fostering regional collaboration.