Mandatory L2 ADAS Safety Standards to Take Effect in 2027, Joining New EV Battery Safety Rules as Entry Barriers for Smart EVs

On July 1, 2026, two mandatory national standards—the "Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicles" and the "Safety Requirements for Traction Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles"—officially took effect, explicitly stipulating that traction batteries must not catch fire or explode after thermal runaway. The following day, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released an interpretation of the "Safety Requirements for Intelligent Connected Vehicles – Combined Driving Assistance Systems" (GB 47955–2026), which was approved on June 27, 2026, and will come into force on January 1, 2027. Combined driving assistance systems refer to Level 2 (L2) driver assistance systems, capable of simultaneously controlling both lateral and longitudinal vehicle motion. However, drivers must remain attentive and ready to take over control at any time, reflecting a “human-in-the-loop” shared-driving model. As of 2026, 70% of new passenger vehicles sold in China are equipped with L2 systems, and over 30% feature navigation-guided pilot assist (NOA). Previously, China lacked mandatory safety standards specifically for L2 systems, leaving the industry reliant on voluntary guidelines, which led to inconsistent technical specifications and frequent safety incidents. The newly issued mandatory standard was developed under MIIT’s leadership, with participation from leading automakers and supply chain companies. It clarifies system classifications to prevent misleading marketing claims; mandates driver monitoring mechanisms and explicitly defines driver responsibilities; requires comprehensive data recording capabilities for system operation; and establishes a three-tier validation framework encompassing simulation, closed-course testing, and real-road trials. A transition period has been set: starting January 1, 2027, all newly submitted vehicle type approvals must comply with the standard, while existing approved models must complete necessary modifications by January 1, 2028. Together, these two new national standards—focusing respectively on the physical safety of power batteries and behavioral norms for driving assistance systems—establish China’s safety compliance threshold for intelligent electric vehicles, marking the industry’s entry into a new phase governed by mandatory standards.