Larger EVs Worsen Parking Woes; New National Standard for Bigger Models to Launch Next Year

In recent years, the increasing dimensions of new energy vehicles (NEVs) have outgrown existing parking space design standards, making it difficult to accommodate today’s mainstream models and frequently causing parking difficulties. Some vehicle owners who switched to larger NEV SUVs have encountered persistent parking issues due to narrow original parking spaces, sometimes even sparking disputes with neighbors. In Shanghai, many older mechanical parking facilities at hospitals, shopping malls, and other venues cannot accommodate most NEVs due to limitations on width and load capacity, forcing some drivers to purchase additional insurance to cover potential vehicle damage incurred during parking maneuvers. To address this issue, relevant national authorities have initiated a revision of the "Code for Design of Garage Buildings," aiming to release new national standards for parking facilities next year. The updated standards are expected to increase technical specifications such as parking space dimensions and garage load capacity to better suit larger NEVs. Additionally, Shanghai plans to launch a renovation program for aging parking garages during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period (2026–2030), which includes widening parking spaces and upgrading mechanical equipment. For mechanical garages that cannot be feasibly retrofitted, the city will remove the equipment and convert them into surface-level parking spaces.