China has sought to tighten rules around driver assistance technology following a fatal accident involving a Xiaomi Corp SU7 electric vehicle that had the autopilot function turned on. — Reuters
China is developing new mandatory national safety requirements for driver assistance systems, signaling a move toward tightening regulations as the safety of the rapidly evolving technology comes under scrutiny.
The proposal was published in a notice on a public service platform under the State Administration for Market Regulation on Wednesday. The China Automotive Technology & Research Center, state-owned carmaker Dongfeng Motor Group Co and tech giant Huawei Technologies Co are participating in the drafting process.
Once finalised, the standard will specify the general technical requirements for combined driver assistance systems, including motion control capabilities, driver status monitoring, driver intervention and functional safety. The deadline for public comment is July 4.
China has sought to tighten rules around driver assistance technology following a fatal accident involving a Xiaomi Corp SU7 electric vehicle that had the autopilot function turned on. In April, the government issued stricter regulations that require automakers to be clearer about what their technology can and can’t do in an effort to curb descriptions of systems as "self-driving”.
Even before the fiery crash in late-March, Beijing had started to put guardrails around driver assistance technology. In February, guidelines were issued about over-the-air software updates, which carmakers routinely use to update in-car smart cockpit and driver assistance systems.
The push for the national requirements just disclosed started as early as March 2024, according to the notice, which outlines its objective to establish clear benchmarks that will improve safety and reduce the frequency of accidents.
The proposed standards are also intended to align with international norms where "reasonably feasible”, the notice said. That will help reduce research and development costs, simplify design for Chinese automakers, and play a crucial role in dismantling technical barriers in international trade, it said. – Bloomberg
