China opens mandatory L2-assist standard to public comment; industry heavyweights reportedly helped draft
Regulator moves to codify how “hands‑on” assisted driving must be
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT, 工信部) has completed the draft of a mandatory national standard titled 《智能网联汽车 组合驾驶辅助系统安全要求》 — translated as "Safety Requirements for Combined Driver Assistance Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles" — and placed the approval draft and explanatory notes on public display from April 16–22, 2026. The document sets a recommended implementation date of January 1, 2027. It has been reported that Huawei (华为), Yinwang (引望), Xiaomi Automobile (小米汽车), BYD (比亚迪), Tesla (特斯拉) and other vendors jointly participated in drafting related materials.
What the draft requires
The draft spells out safety requirements and type‑approval criteria for three L2‑level system classes: basic single‑lane combined assistance, basic multi‑lane combined assistance, and navigation (pilot) combined assistance. It defines functional boundaries and capability thresholds, prescribes product‑design and development controls, and mandates multi‑layer evaluation including ground testing, on‑road testing and document inspection. The standard applies to M‑class (passenger) and N‑class (cargo) vehicles fitted with these systems.
Driver responsibility and misuse prevention
A central principle: the driver must remain the primary actor in dynamic driving tasks. To reduce misuse, the draft requires clear instructions, driver training, driver‑state monitoring, system disablement mechanisms and explicit limits on use. For example, systems must lock out further use for a defined period if drivers repeatedly remove hands or avert their gaze, or if driver disengagement causes safety‑critical interventions. The aim is to curb overreliance on L2 systems while allowing controlled deployment.
Industry and geopolitical backdrop
Why now? China is converging regulation and industry practice as assisted‑driving deployments expand domestically and abroad. It has been reported that close involvement by major vendors reflects an effort to shape performance and compliance baselines. These moves also sit against a broader geopolitical backdrop—export controls and tech restrictions in the West have sharpened Beijing’s focus on domestic standards and verification regimes. Will strict, prescriptive rules speed safer adoption — or slow innovation in a fast‑moving field? The MIIT is soliciting public feedback during the consultation window; stakeholders can submit comments in the prescribed format.