New National Standard Proposes Mandatory Physical Controls for Critical Functions; MIIT Seeks Public Comments

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently solicited public comments on a proposed revision to the mandatory national standard "Symbols for Controls, Indicators, and Tell-tales in Motor Vehicles." The draft revision explicitly requires physical controls for key safety-critical functions closely related to driving—such as turn signal switches, window regulators, and activation of combined driver assistance systems—to enhance operability without visual attention (blind operation), accessibility, and operational reliability, thereby reducing driver distraction caused by overreliance on screens. The revision also updates the standard’s scope by removing provisions no longer applicable to electric vehicles, introduces a new symbol for power battery fault warnings, and establishes requirements for the display hierarchy, visibility, and supplementary explanations of symbols shown on screens. Amid the ongoing electrification and intelligent transformation of automobiles—and the resulting proliferation of virtual controls—this updated standard aims to unify critical function identifiers, prevent user confusion, and reinforce safety-oriented design. The standard is led by MIIT, with participation from multiple automakers and testing institutions in its drafting.