BEIJING China will allow road trials of some intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) in designated city areas, the industry ministry said on Friday.

The world's largest auto market has set its long-term strategic focus on ICVs in a push to become the leading global player in the still nascent industry.

The trials apply to levels 3 and 4 in China's five categories of autonomous driving, the ministry of industry and information technology said in a website statement.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)