China ADS lamp ban Prohibits Blue Driver Assistance Lights

China ADS lamp ban has reportedly directed passenger vehicle manufacturers to stop installing external blue indicator lights used to show driver assistance system activation. The move follows concerns that these lights do not comply with existing national vehicle lighting standards. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the instruction after identifying issues related to the Automated Driving System Marker Lamp, commonly called the little blue light, which has been adopted by several intelligent vehicle manufacturers.
A screenshot shared by auto industry blogger Sun Shaojun indicated that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ordered an immediate halt to installation of these lights because they failed to meet GB 4785 requirements. The regulator is expected to further evaluate how vehicles already sold with the blue indicators should be handled. Local media reported that Geely Auto acknowledged awareness of the directive and stated that it would comply with national regulations.
An automaker employee confirmed to local media that China prohibited the use of blue lights on newly certified vehicle models from July 27, 2026. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has not yet released an official public document regarding the decision. The existing GB 4785-2019 standard, titled Prescription for installation of the external lighting and light-signalling devices for motor vehicles and their trailers, defines permitted vehicle lighting purposes and colors.
The GB 4785-2019 standard, issued in December 2019 and effective from July 2020, specifies allowed external vehicle light colors including white, yellow, red and amber. Blue is not included in the approved color list. The official designation for the affected lighting system is the Automated Driving System Marker Lamp, which was introduced to communicate that a vehicle was operating with shared control between the driver and assistance technology.
Li Auto introduced the lighting feature on its Li L9 extended-range SUV in August 2022. Following this introduction, several major electric vehicle manufacturers including Xpeng, Nio Inc, BYD and Xiaomi adopted similar indicators. The lights were designed to inform surrounding road users that automated driving functions were active while the driver and assistance system shared vehicle control.
The adoption of blue indicators happened without a unified industry standard, resulting in differences among manufacturers in installation locations, brightness levels and color shades. Regulatory concerns mainly focused on excessive brightness and unsuitable placement positions. Some vehicles positioned the lamps near the eye level of following drivers, creating potential distraction risks during nighttime driving and adverse weather conditions.
China's latest regulatory action reflects broader efforts to control intelligent vehicle design features after periods of rapid technology adoption. Several unconventional automotive technologies, including hidden door handles, single-pedal driving systems, touchscreen gear selectors and non-traditional steering wheels, have also faced increased regulatory scrutiny. The approach indicates a stronger focus on standardized safety requirements as advanced driver assistance technologies become more common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did China ban ADS lamps?
China prohibited ADS lamps because the blue indicator lights did not comply with existing national vehicle lighting standards and lacked unified regulatory approval requirements. The decision targets newly certified passenger vehicles and addresses concerns about brightness, placement and driver distraction during nighttime conditions. Regulators are expected to evaluate existing vehicles already equipped with these lamps while continuing efforts to standardize intelligent vehicle design features across the market. Automakers including major Chinese EV manufacturers must follow updated compliance requirements as future driver assistance systems evolve.