GUANGZHOU/TOKYO — China’s efforts to get more nearly autonomous vehicles on its roads have become bogged down by growing uncertainty over the technology’s near-term profit potential in a challenging environment.
The country has made significant strides in recent years under a national strategy that prioritizes autonomous-driving technology. A road map released in November 2020 calls for 20% of all new vehicles sold to have Level 4 capabilities — letting them operate without a driver under certain conditions — by 2030.