Stricter Auto Crash Safety Standards Take Effect July 1, with Major Upgrades to Side and Rear Impact Requirements

Starting July 1, 2024, China has officially implemented several new national standards for vehicle crash safety. Among them, the standard titled "Occupant Protection in Motor Vehicle Side Impact Collisions" represents the most stringent upgrade in nearly two decades. The new standard increases the mass of the moving deformable barrier used in side-impact tests from 950 kg to 1,400 kg, better reflecting real-world traffic collision scenarios. The updated standard also introduces additional requirements specifically for electric vehicles: after a side impact, the traction battery within the passenger compartment must not shift position, and it must not catch fire or explode within 30 minutes following the collision. Additionally, vehicles must automatically activate their hazard warning lights after a crash to alert other road users and help prevent secondary accidents. Furthermore, the concurrently implemented standard "Rear Impact Safety Requirements for Passenger Cars" imposes stricter safety demands regarding rear-end collisions. Building upon existing fuel leakage controls, this standard adds new provisions concerning battery safety and vehicle fire risk. It also tightens fuel leakage monitoring by shifting from an average measurement over the entire test duration to strict surveillance during the first five minutes immediately after impact.