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