BUSINESS

China Drafts Rule to Disable Assisted-Driving Systems for Inattentive Drivers

Published: Sep. 19, 2025 2:38 a.m. GMT+8

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About 63% of new cars sold in China now include assisted-driving capabilities, up 6.5 percentage points from the previous year.

China is preparing to impose sweeping mandatory safety standards on assisted-driving technology, a booming yet often controversial feature in modern vehicles, in a bid to tighten regulatory control amid surging adoption and mounting safety concerns.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Wednesday released a draft of the proposed rules for public comment. If enacted, the regulations would compel automakers to install advanced driver-monitoring systems and include functions to safely bring vehicles to a stop if a driver is inattentive.

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China plans to enforce strict safety standards on Level 2 assisted-driving systems, mandating advanced driver-monitoring and risk mitigation features.
MIIT data show 63% of new cars sold (Jan–July 2025) in China have assisted-driving tech, with sales rising 21.3% year-on-year to 7.8 million units.
The draft rules, prompted by accidents like a fatal Xiaomi SU7 crash, are set for public comment until Nov. 15 and planned for implementation in January 2027.

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Who’s Who

Xiaomi: A fatal crash in March involving a Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan, reportedly using assisted-driving mode, brought increased public attention to the safety of such systems. This incident fueled calls for tougher regulations on assisted-driving technology in China.

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What Happened When

March 2025：: A fatal crash involving a Xiaomi SU7 electric sedan reportedly operating in assisted-driving mode occurred, intensifying public scrutiny and calls for stronger oversight.

Between January and July 2025：: Sales of new passenger cars with assisted-driving systems in China jumped 21.3% year-on-year to nearly 7.8 million units, with 63% of new cars including such capabilities.

September 17, 2025：: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released a draft of proposed mandatory safety regulations for assisted-driving technology for public comment.

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