China announced stricter requirements for automotive technology

China has proposed tightening the requirements for cars and the technologies used in them. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China, together with three other departments, submitted a draft of new rules for public discussion, Bloomberg writes.

It proposes, among other things, a complete ban on hidden door handles. For a number of safety-critical functions, they want to retain physical elements (buttons, etc.).

The draft also does not allow the use of folding or flexible screens in cars. Some innovative solutions will require additional security checks. According to the document's developers, some manufacturers released new products without sufficient testing, which increased the risks for all road users, including the vehicles themselves, and the environment.

From January 1, 2027, automakers who apply for approval of models with innovative designs will be required to provide additional technical parameters and materials for verification. For previously approved models, additional information will need to be submitted by July 1st. Vehicles that fail to meet this deadline and potentially pose a safety risk will be recalled.

Cars where safety-critical functions are controlled virtually, including headlights, windshield wipers and heated windshields, will need to retain physical controls. Emergency functions will also require clearly marked physical controls.

It is also proposed to test reliability for at least 30 thousand kilometers and conduct more stringent environmental checks. Automakers will be required to investigate safety incidents if they use innovative design solutions. They will also have to provide data and technical assistance to police crash investigations.

In addition, regulators are increasing their scrutiny of “fast-track developed vehicles.” We are talking about models that were created in a short time with a reduced amount of testing in real conditions. The document says that some manufacturers relied more on simulation testing instead of testing in real conditions. Examples are given where a significant portion of the testing was conducted virtually.