Four Chinese Agencies Propose Auto Safety Rules Banning Hidden Door Handles

On October 10, 2026, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the State Administration for Market Regulation, released for public comment a draft notice on strengthening management of automotive products. It targets innovative design and testing and validation in research and development. Behind it lies a gap between the speed of new product launches and insufficient validation. According to reporting by TMTPost’s official account, copycat new product launches and a lack of testing and validation were highlighted. The document is built around three areas: stronger validation, design restrictions, and market access management. If implemented, it will directly affect development processes and review systems.

Four Agencies Jointly Release Draft Auto

Regulation

The draft is titled the “Notice on Further Strengthening Management of Innovative Design and R&D Testing and Validation for Automotive Products.” Its weight comes from being jointly issued by four departments. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology handles announcement management, while the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation complement it on safety and quality. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment is involved from the perspective of emissions and environmental adaptation. The aim is to correct a trend described as “emphasis on launch, neglect of validation.” It seeks to curb the rush to bring products to market while skimping on validation.

Newly applied products must complete tests for overall reliability and durability, structural reliability, software functional reliability, and others

TMTPost reported the above requirement as the core. Traditionally, much was left to voluntary standards set by individual companies. This draft clarifies the duration and mileage in numerical terms. It is expected to be finalized after the public comment period. The content will also affect supply chains including Japanese companies.

Driving Tests Set Time and Mileage Benchmarks

The first pillar is stricter testing and validation in research and development. The environmental adaptability validation period is set at one year or more. Testing covering “two winters and one summer” is required. The aim is to confirm performance in both cold and heat. The mileage for reliability validation is set at 30,000 km or more. Overall reliability, durability, and structural reliability are covered. Completion of testing for software functional reliability is also a condition. The rule appears to reflect the update frequency of advanced driver assistance and in-vehicle operating systems.

Building up the validation system will lengthen development periods. Testing across seasons makes it difficult to front-load schedules. Securing mileage will require more test vehicles and personnel. Record-keeping and consistency of submitted documents will also be examined. Handling of false documentation is linked to market access management. Balancing higher costs with improved quality will be a challenge.

Retractable Handles and Movable Seats Banned

The second pillar is access restrictions on innovative design. A so-called red-line list has been established. Fully retractable door handles are prohibited. The reason is the risk of being unable to open doors in emergencies. Foldable and flexible screens are not permitted. The aim is to prevent breakage in vibration or collisions and loss of visibility. “Zero-gravity” seats and rotating seats are banned for use while driving. Functions that recline seats into bed-like form are also prohibited while driving.

Safety-related controls such as emergency escape and emergency braking must retain physical controls and conspicuous displays

The above policy prioritizes the safety of the control system. Amid consolidation into touchscreens, it may look like a step backward. But ensuring operation in collisions or power loss was given priority. Visibility of displays and tactile operability are required. Reviews of interior design and parts procurement will be unavoidable. Balancing design freedom with safety will be a challenge for design departments.

Unvalidated Vehicles to Be Excluded Toward

2027 Enforcement

The third pillar is clarification of market access management and timing. The new operation is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027. Products that have not undergone testing and validation as required will not be announced. Products with insufficient validation or false documentation will also be excluded from announcement. Products that have already obtained announcement will also need additional action. Supplementary submission of related documents is required by July 1, 2027. If safety concerns remain after the deadline, strict measures will be taken. Production suspension and recalls will be implemented.

The transition period spans about a year and a half. Re-validation of existing models and document preparation will be concentrated. The review capacity of authorities and the responsiveness of companies will be tested. Cancellation of announcements and recalls directly affect sales and credibility. Mid-sized and emerging companies could face heavier burdens. Launch plans around 2027 will be forced to readjust.

Trial Begins for Autonomous Personal Agent

In the same week, there was also movement in AI applications. Lingguang, an AI product under Ant Group, began small-scale testing of a new version. The new version is positioned to rival “Meta Muse.” Preparations in related areas have been underway for about half a year. Multiple versions were iterated during the period. A full release is planned for this month.

The core is a shift to personal agents. It moves away from support functions for conversation and app generation. It is designed with long-term memory to autonomously advance tasks. It supports calls to Skills and MCP. It can send information via DingTalk and operate smart home devices. It illustrates a shift from one-off responses to continuous execution. Integration with vehicles and homes will be a strength for Chinese players.

Brake Part Fix and Optical Chip

Acquisition Advance

In autos, responses by individual companies were also reported. MAEXTRO’s customer service department confirmed a plan to improve the brake pedal bracket. The MAEXTRO V800 is covered. The improvement plan is scheduled to be finalized at the end of October. Improvements will start sequentially from November. Free improvements will be provided to users who have already taken delivery. Reservations can be made at service centers nationwide. Undelivered vehicles will be delivered after improvement. No additional procedures are required.

In semiconductors, an acquisition of photodetectors was announced. A wholly owned subsidiary of Dongbai Group will acquire a Hangzhou optoelectronics company. The stake is 52.6667% with a provisional transfer price of 316 million yuan. The target develops, produces, and sells photodetectors. The devices become optical receiver components through packaging and integration and are built into optical communications units. Revenue and net profit for 2025 and January-August 2026 were also disclosed. Revenue scale is small and losses continue. Risks around commercialization of high-speed products, mass-production capacity, and cross-industry integration were also noted. The disclosure provides material for decisions on in-house production versus external procurement.

An announcement on FII was also issued. The U.S. International Trade Commission formally launched a Section 337 investigation on October 9. The complainant is U.S.-based Vicor, alleging patent infringement related to vertical power systems. FII disclosed the results of its internal review. The products under investigation are at the internal validation and evaluation stage. It said there is currently no material impact on production, operations, or results. Developments in the dispute over power supply technology warrant close attention.

Editorial Opinion

In the short term, schedules and cost structures for China-oriented development will be reviewed. Validation spanning seasons for more than a year will lengthen launch intervals. The obligation to retain physical components will change procurement for interiors and electronic parts. Parts companies in Japan, Europe, and the U.S. will also see more compliance work.

In the long term, competition for leadership in safe design will intensify. China’s prohibition list could influence standard-setting in other regions. The return of physical controls will prompt a reassessment of user interfaces. Design thinking will swing back from excessive screen consolidation to ensuring redundancy.

As a question from the editors, whether stronger validation will slow technological innovation is at issue. Long-term testing improves quality while delaying market introduction of new functions. Whether coordination between AI agents and vehicles will become subject to regulation also remains untested. The form of review that balances safety and speed is being questioned.

References

• “【钛晨报】剑指“重上市、轻验证”，四部门联合发文划清汽车安全底线；经销商联谊会“批量”解散？茅台回应；蚂蚁“灵光”小范围内测，新版对标“Meta Muse””, by 钛媒体官方账号 — 钛媒体, 2026-10-11T23:20:00.000Z (ARR)
• Source URL: https://www.tmtpost.com/8164570.html