Stories
China Car Sales Plunge As Strict New Vehicle Design Rules Proposed
- •China passenger vehicle retail sales dropped 24 percent in September to 1.702 million units.
- •New-energy vehicle sales declined 12 percent year-on-year to 1.141 million units.
- •China proposed new draft rules to ban fully hidden car-door handles and foldable displays.
- •Automakers will be required to retain physical controls for safety-critical functions like lights and wipers.
- •New proposals demand stricter testing, including at least 30,000 kilometers of reliability testing.
Key Questions Answered
China has proposed draft rules to ban fully hidden car-door handles and foldable or flexible display screens. Regulators also require automakers to maintain physical controls for safety-critical functions like lights, wipers, and defogging systems, while mandating stricter reliability and environmental testing.
China's passenger vehicle retail sales dropped 24% year-on-year in September to 1.702 million units, while new-energy vehicle sales declined 12% to 1.141 million units according to the China Passenger Car Association.
Automakers applying for approval of models with innovative designs must submit additional technical parameters and validation materials starting January 1. For previously approved models, supplementary information must be provided by July 1, or production will be halted and recalls initiated for safety hazards.
