# China Unveils Auto Safety Rules on Design, Testing and Hidden Door Handles

Four Chinese authorities issued a draft notice on October 10 requiring new vehicle models to complete reliability and environmental testing, alongside mandatory standards on door handles and intelligent driving systems taking effect in 2027\.

By China EV Signal
Published: 2026-10-13T14:47:48.382Z
Updated: 2026-10-13T14:47:48.385Z
Canonical article: https://chinaevsignal.com/news/china-auto-safety-rules-design-testing-door-handles

## Key takeaways

- A draft notice issued on October 10 by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the State Administration for Market Regulation requires new vehicle models to complete reliability and durability, structural reliability and software functional reliability testing\.
- New mandatory standards published in January, June and July cover vehicle door handles, combined driving assistance systems and autonomous driving systems, with implementation dates of January 1, 2027 and July 1, 2027\.
- From the end of July, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology tightened review of vehicle product announcements, and new passenger car applications may no longer come factory-fitted with blue driving assistance indicator lights\.

## Draft Notice Sets Testing Requirements for New Models

On October 10, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the State Administration for Market Regulation, jointly issued a draft notice on strengthening the management of innovative design and research and development testing verification for automotive products\.

Under the draft, newly declared products must complete tests covering comprehensive reliability and durability, structural reliability and software functional reliability\. Environmental adaptability verification must run for no less than one year and include two winters and one summer of testing\. Reliability verification testing mileage must be no less than 30,000 kilometers\.

The draft prohibits fully hidden door handles, folding or flexible screens, and the use of zero-gravity seats, rotating seats or seats that fold flat into a bed while driving\. Physical controls and clear markings must be retained for safety-related controls such as emergency escape and emergency braking\.

From January 1, 2027, products that have not been tested and verified as required, that are insufficiently verified or that provide false materials will not be granted announcement approval\. Products that have already obtained announcement approval must submit supplementary materials by July 1, 2027; those that miss the deadline and have safety hazards will have production halted and be recalled\.

## Mandatory Standards Cover Door Handles and Intelligent Driving

On January 28, the mandatory national standard Safety Technical Requirements for Vehicle Door Handles \(GB 48001—2026\) was approved for release, addressing safety hazards of hidden door handles in scenarios such as power loss and collisions\. After a vehicle loses power, the mechanical release function of the door handle must still work normally, and safety markings for interior door handles must be clearly visible at the corresponding passenger positions\.

In June, the mandatory standard Safety Requirements for Combined Driving Assistance Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles \(GB 47955—2026\) was approved for release and takes effect on January 1, 2027\. It sets safety baselines for L2-level combined driving assistance and imposes safety requirements on human-machine interaction, driver monitoring and data recording for three types of systems: basic single-lane, basic multi-lane and navigational driving assistance\.

In July, China's first mandatory national standard for L3 and L4 autonomous driving, Safety Requirements for Autonomous Driving Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles \(GB 44721—2026\), was issued and takes effect on July 1, 2027\.

## Tighter Review of Vehicle Announcements

From the end of July, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has tightened review of vehicle product announcement applications\. Because blue does not conform to current vehicle exterior lighting color standards, newly declared passenger cars may not come factory-fitted with blue driving assistance indicator lights; existing vehicles are not subject to mandatory handling for now\.

A nationwide campaign is concentrating on rectifying four areas of road motor vehicle products: production consistency, reliability, durability and testing verification of new technologies\.

## Original publisher

工信微报. Published: 2026-10-12T23:31:01.000Z