SAMR (SAC) recently approved and released the revised mandatory national standard GB 7258-2026, Technical specifications for safety of power-driven vehicles operating on roads, which will come into force on July 1, 2027.

In recent years, the number of vehicles in circulation in China has kept growing together with steadily rising penetration rate of intelligent and connected new energy vehicles. However, old and new safety risks are brought by the relatively low uptake of advanced active and passive safety equipment on conventional vehicles remains, and insufficient supporting safety-related requirements for new energy intelligent and connected vehicles.

To further improve the safety performance of vehicles on roads and consolidate the foundation for road traffic safety administration, the Ministry of Public Security, together with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Transport and other authorities, has organized the revision of the mandatory national standard of GB 7258. Relevant technical requirements have been updated and improved in the following four aspects.

First, enhancing the intrinsic safety of large and medium-sized passenger and freight vehicles. The standard expands the scope of vehicle models required to be fitted with autonomous emergency braking, electronic stability control and electronically controlled braking systems. It adds new requirements for tyre pressure monitoring systems and lane departure warning systems, so as to mitigate safety risks such as vehicle rollover and brake failure.

Second, regulating safety requirements for the application of new technologies including new energy vehicles and intelligent driving. The standard sets out specifications for single-pedal braking, virtual operating controls, in-vehicle entertainment systems, starting acceleration performance of new energy vehicles, and power cut-off functions after collisions. It adds the requirement that new energy passenger vehicles shall be equipped with an acceleration suppression function against misoperation of pedals. It also puts forward the functional requirements for vehicles fitted with combined driving assistance systems, including activation condition confirmation, hands-and-eyes-off detection and abnormal operation monitoring.

Third, improving safety-related technical requirements for vehicle registration administration. The standards further tightens requirements for the stamping of vehicle identification numbers and structures of cargo-carrying sections. New provisions are introduced on the pasting space for enlarged licence plate numbers, as well as safety technical requirements for special-type vehicles and wheeled special-purpose mechanical vehicles.

Fourth, adding technical requirements for preventing safety risks associated with typical vehicle accidents. Targeting prominent problems such as large blind areas, driver fatigue, low seat belt wearing rates among occupants and poor night time visibility, the standard adds requirements for the installation of panoramic-image monitoring systems or blind area monitoring systems and driver attention monitoring systems. It also extends the application scope of seat belt reminder devices and adds requirements for affixing retro-reflective markings on three-wheeled cargo motorcycles.

The standard will provide vital technical support for vehicle design and manufacturing, road-traffic safety governance, and markedly raise the operational safety level of vehicles, which will play a significant role in promoting the upgrading of the automotive industry, preventing road-traffic hazards, and safeguarding public safety.