China bans 'smart' and 'autonomous' driving terms from vehicle ads

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China is banning automakers from utilizing the presumption "smart driving" and "autonomous driving" erstwhile they advertise driving assistance features, and it volition tighten scrutiny of specified exertion upgrades.

The mandate connected conveyance advertizing was delivered by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology successful its gathering with astir 60 representatives from automakers connected Wednesday, according to a transcript seen by Reuters and confirmed by 1 of the attendees.

The determination follows a fatal mishap involving Xiaomi's best-selling SU7 sedan successful March that triggered wide concerns implicit conveyance safety.

Preliminary findings showed the Xiaomi car caught occurrence aft hitting a cement roadside rod astatine a velocity of 97 kph (60 mph) seconds aft its operator took implicit power from the precocious driving assistance strategy (ADAS).

The ministry confirmed the gathering successful a abbreviated connection that said it provided clarity to automakers astir caller requirements published successful February involving driving-related over-the-air exertion upgrades of intelligent and connected vehicles.

Under the updated rule, automakers are nary longer allowed to trial and amended their ADAS via distant bundle updates for vehicles already delivered to customers without approval, according to the gathering transcript.

They are present required to transportation retired capable tests to verify reliability and to get support from the authorities earlier specified roll-outs.

Huawei, which supplies its ADAS to astatine slightest 7 brands including Audi successful China, was among the firms that attended the meeting, according to the transcript.

The regulatory determination comes arsenic automakers person been rushing to motorboat caller models equipped with ADAS, touting the "smart driving" capableness arsenic a cardinal selling constituent to conflict a brutal terms warfare that has extended into the 3rd twelvemonth successful the world's largest car market.

BYD escalated the contention successful February erstwhile it rolled retired astatine slightest 21 affordable models priced from little than $10,000 that are equipped with escaped "smart driving" features. Many of its peers including Leapmotor and Toyota followed suit, introducing affordable vehicles with akin features.

The Chinese regulators are tightening the scrutiny connected electrical conveyance technologies arsenic the manufacture has grown faster than expected, with income of EVs and hybrids accounting for much than fractional of full conveyance income precocious past year, a milestone achieved up of policymakers' schedule.

The regulators are besides tightening regulations connected EV artillery standards, aiming to trim risks of occurrence and explosions.