Chinese authorities are strengthening safety verification procedures for new automotive technologies. This move comes amid concerns that the intense competition in the Chinese automotive industry could lead to vehicles entering the market without adequate safety checks.
On October 10, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and three other departments released a draft notice aimed at enhancing the management of automotive product innovation design and research and development testing. The core of the proposal mandates that any new technology applied to vehicles must undergo safety verification before release, and vehicles that do not meet verification standards will not receive approval for market entry.
According to the draft, vehicles must undergo reliability testing that includes a minimum of 30,000 kilometers of driving. The environmental adaptability testing period is set to last at least one year, which must include two winter tests and one summer test.
The draft also prohibits certain features, such as fully recessed door handles and foldable, flexible displays, and strengthens requirements for release approvals and recalls.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology explained that the regulations were prompted by recent instances where some manufacturers rushed to launch new products without sufficient testing and verification in response to market trends, increasing risks to safety and the environment.
This initiative comes as the competition for new car releases in the Chinese automotive sector heats up. Market research firm Gasgoo predicts that over 170 new car models will be launched in China this year, averaging a new release every two days.
As the frequency of new car launches increases, the development period for vehicles has also shortened. Consulting firm AlixPartners reports that some Chinese electric vehicle startups have reduced their development timelines from the industry standard of over 40 months to about 20 months, cutting development costs by approximately 30%.
This accelerated development pace has led to a trend where some companies rush to release new cars and then address issues through over-the-air software updates, raising safety concerns.
Recently, a high-end electric vehicle, the 'Zhun Jie (English name: Maestro) V800,' developed jointly by Huawei and state-owned automaker JAC, faced safety scrutiny after a test by an automotive media outlet revealed a failure in the brake pedal support. The vehicle is priced at over 766,000 yuan (approximately $150,000).
Concerns have also been raised that quality control issues could undermine the credibility of Chinese automotive brands in international markets. In Malaysia, a vehicle from Chinese manufacturer Chery, the 'Omoda 5,' was involved in an incident where the rear wheels detached from the axle while driving. As a result, Malaysian authorities halted new registrations for the vehicle and ordered a recall affecting over 8,800 units.
Li Yanwei, an expert with the China Automobile Dealers Association, commented in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun that this regulatory action is expected to curb the practice of hastily developing and launching vehicles without adequate verification. He noted that the competition in the Chinese automotive market has intensified, prompting new electric vehicle companies to rapidly introduce new models to gain market share. He added that companies have been exploiting regulatory loopholes to streamline processes and reduce costs, but these gaps are expected to be closed next year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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