HAIKOU /China/, Oct. 21. /TASS/. A digital driver’s license system was introduced in the southern Chinese province of Hainan, according to the Hainan International Communication Network.
Applications for a digital license were opened in the province's administrative center, Haikou, on October 20. In a day, more than 68,000 Haikou signed up through a special mobile app.
The application is considered within a day. If approved, the digital license can be used in the same way as a physical license: for servicing vehicles, checking documents on the road, renting cars, purchasing insurance, etc. The digital version of the license is equipped with an advanced anti-counterfeiting technology.
Applications for mobile licenses will open in eight cities and counties of Hainan, including Sanya, starting October 23rd. From October 26th, residents of ten more cities and towns on the island will be able to apply.
On June 1st China launched a pilot program for issuing digital driver's licenses in the cities of Tianjin, Chengdu and Suzhou. From September 1st, digital driver's licenses began to be issued in another 28 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Since October 20th, the digital license program has been expanded to 110 more cities.
According to the plans of Chinese authorities, in 2022 electronic driving licenses will be available in all cities and regions of the country. To date, more than 2 million residents of China have already received such a license.