New National Standard Bans Half-Steering Wheels: Full Ban Effective 2027

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) recently released the draft mandatory national standard GB 11557-202X for approval, explicitly removing all technical provisions related to half-rim steering wheels. The new regulation is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, effectively preventing half-rim steering wheels from achieving regulatory compliance in the near term. The revised standard significantly tightens safety requirements: steering wheels must now pass head impact tests at 10 designated locations, with the maximum allowable impact force reduced to 11,110 newtons to enhance energy absorption and cushioning performance. Data shows that vehicles equipped with half-rim steering wheels have a 37% higher rate of accidents caused by driver error compared to those with conventional round steering wheels, and they present structural safety risks in collisions. Although some automakers previously marketed half-rim designs as a "future standard," most still offer traditional round steering wheels as an option. The policy does not reject innovation per se; rather, it aims to eliminate flashy but impractical "pseudo-innovations" and promote genuinely safe and reliable technological advancements.