"Smart Driving Blue Light" to Be Phased Out of New Models for Non-Compliance with National Standards; Industry Urgently Needs Unified ADAS Status Indicator

According to the current mandatory national standard "GB 4785-2019 Installation Requirements for External Lighting and Light-Signaling Devices on Motor Vehicles and Trailers," blue light sources are not compliant external lighting or signaling devices. Although no official authority has explicitly banned the use of the so-called "smart-driving blue indicator light" (commonly referred to as the "little blue light"), several automakers have announced they will discontinue its use in newly registered vehicle models, with the feature expected to disappear from new vehicles starting in 2025. Initially introduced to indicate whether a vehicle was engaged in Level 2 (L2) advanced driver assistance functions—such as lane centering or navigation-guided pilot assist—the "little blue light" served as a visual cue for other road users at a time when traditional traffic signaling systems had not yet adapted to intelligent driving technologies. However, due to the absence of unified standards, automakers implemented varying designs in terms of brightness, mounting position, and flashing patterns. In some cases, excessively bright lights caused nighttime glare, and the inconsistent signals often led to misinterpretations regarding the vehicle’s automation level and associated liability. As the "little blue light" is phased out, the challenge of identifying a vehicle’s driver-assistance status on the road becomes more pronounced. Ordinary drivers now struggle to determine whether a preceding vehicle is operating in a human-machine collaborative mode, potentially increasing safety risks. Industry experts urge that, while strictly enforcing existing regulations, authorities should accelerate the development of a legal, unified, and standardized alternative solution. Recommendations include adding a dedicated "driver-assistance status" signal category when revising relevant national standards, clearly defining specifications for human-machine co-driving indicators; automakers should enhance in-cabin human-machine interaction and driver monitoring systems while promoting visual symbol standardization; and traffic management agencies should strengthen public education on road safety. The retirement of the "little blue light" reflects a temporary misalignment between technological innovation and regulatory frameworks in the intelligent vehicle industry—and simultaneously presents an opportunity to build a more robust and coherent interaction system for intelligent driver assistance.