China ICNEV Industry Sets Standards and Safety Priorities

China Expands Intelligent Connected Vehicle Standards

On September 11, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) outlined priorities for the intelligent connected new energy vehicle (ICNEV) industry during a press conference covering the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The agenda includes standards development, driver assistance and automated driving, international cooperation, and measures intended to improve competition and product quality. The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) will continue strengthening the intelligent connected vehicle standards system. Existing standards covering advanced driver assistance, automated driving, information security, and connected vehicle functions will be expanded to emerging areas including automotive artificial intelligence, automotive software, and automotive data.

Mandatory Standards to Cover Emerging Automotive Technologies

SAMR will accelerate work on mandatory national standards covering parking assistance systems, automated parking systems, automotive data security, and safety event data exchange and management. The standardization effort is also expected to strengthen alignment between China’s requirements and international standards. This expansion reflects the growing range of technologies incorporated into intelligent connected vehicles, where software, data handling, artificial intelligence, and automated functions increasingly influence vehicle operation and safety. For automakers and technology suppliers operating in China, the developing framework will create additional requirements around product design, data management, testing, and compliance as new national standards are introduced and existing requirements are further developed.

MIIT Strengthens Automated Driving Development and Oversight

For driver assistance and automated driving, MIIT will strengthen the development and implementation of standards while continuing pilot programs covering production approval and on-road operation of intelligent connected vehicles. The ministry plans to steadily advance applications including highway navigation assistance, automated parking, and logistics delivery. At the same time, it will increase safety assessment and oversight of automated driving and advance development of a dedicated safety management platform for ICNEVs. These measures connect technology deployment with regulatory supervision, creating a framework in which automated driving applications can progress through defined standards, approval processes, operational pilots, safety assessments, and ongoing oversight rather than relying solely on individual technology deployments.

China Targets Stronger Automotive Cooperation and Competition Rules

International expansion is another priority under the plan. The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will improve policies supporting the automotive industry’s overseas expansion and strengthen the comprehensive overseas service system. It will also participate more actively in international rulemaking, reinforce corporate compliance during overseas operations, and improve protection of companies’ legitimate interests abroad. Separately, MIIT will continue efforts to regulate competition in the automotive industry, address misconduct in the online environment, standardize new vehicle launches and product evaluations, and encourage automakers to standardize payments to suppliers. These measures are intended to establish more consistent operating practices as China automakers expand domestically and internationally.

Automotive Quality Requirements Will Also Increase

MIIT will implement a special initiative to upgrade automotive standards, including higher requirements for the durability and reliability of key components and complete vehicles. The ministry will also continue improving production conformity and quality management for road motor vehicle products, while strengthening approval reviews and testing and validation for automotive products featuring innovative designs. Additional product quality supervision and inspections are planned. MIIT will further accelerate legislation concerning the Regulations on the Administration of Motor Vehicle Production Approval and improve the dynamic management mechanism. Together, these actions place greater emphasis on durability, reliability, conformity, validation, and regulatory review as new vehicle technologies and designs enter production and China’s automotive market continues to evolve.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The measures outlined by MIIT indicate that China’s ICNEV development during the 15th Five-Year Plan will increasingly combine technology deployment with standardized safety, quality, data, and production requirements. Automakers, suppliers, software developers, and companies expanding overseas may need to account for evolving standards and compliance obligations across vehicle development and operations. Stronger oversight of automated driving could also shape how highway assistance, automated parking, and logistics applications move from pilot programs toward broader use. At the same time, closer international standards alignment and overseas support policies could affect how Chinese automotive companies manage cross-border operations, while tighter competition and quality requirements may influence product development and supplier relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are China’s main ICNEV priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan?
The main priorities include stronger vehicle standards, automated driving oversight, international cooperation, competition regulation, and higher product quality requirements. The plan expands standardization into automotive AI, software, and data while accelerating mandatory standards for parking assistance, automated parking, automotive data security, and safety event data management. MIIT will also continue production approval and on-road operation pilots, support selected automated driving applications, strengthen safety assessments, and develop an ICNEV safety management platform. Additional measures address overseas operations, supplier payments, product evaluations, production conformity, testing, validation, and motor vehicle production approval legislation.