Opinion: In China’s EV Race, Safety Can’t Be Shoved to the Back Seat

Published: Nov. 3, 2025 4:22 p.m. GMT+8

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No technology, no matter how cutting-edge, has the privilege of running wild — especially when it concerns countless lives. Photo: AI generated

As China’s intelligent connected new-energy vehicles (NEVs) advance at a breakneck pace, safety concerns have once again sparked intense debate. An official from the State Administration for Market Regulation recently urged companies to “embed the principle of safety-first throughout the entire R&D process and prevent the shortsighted practice of sacrificing safety for speed to market.”

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Safety concerns are rising as China's intelligent connected new-energy vehicles (NEVs) develop rapidly, prompting calls for a “safety-first” principle in all R&D and production stages.
Chinese authorities introduced draft regulations in 2024–2025 strengthening safety standards, recall systems, and accident reporting for intelligent vehicles.
Companies are urged to accurately market assisted driving technologies and ensure rigorous safety monitoring, transparency, and compliance to maintain public trust.

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What Happened When

March 2019：: The State Administration for Market Regulation required immediate investigation and analysis of relevant NEV accidents, with results to be reported to the agency.

2019：: A supplementary notice stated that defect investigations would be initiated based on accident investigations and risk assessments, and risk warnings issued to consumers when necessary.

February 2025：: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the State Administration for Market Regulation issued a notice on further strengthening the management of vehicle product access, recalls, and over-the-air software updates.

2025：: The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a draft notice on strengthening recalls, production conformity, and marketing for intelligent connected NEVs.

2025：: One automaker recalled a large number of vehicles due to defects in its assisted driving system.

September 17, 2025：: The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a draft of a mandatory national standard titled Safety Requirements for Combined Driving Assistance Systems in Intelligent and Connected Vehicles.

AI generated, for reference only