On October 10, 2026, four departments, among which is the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly released the Notice on Further Enhancing the Oversight of Innovative Design, Research and Development (R&D), Testing, and Verification Processes for Automotive Products (Draft for Public Comment). The initiative aims to standardize marketing and promotional activities within the automotive sector. The notice mandates that automotive manufacturers must engage in truthful and objective promotional practices, providing accurate explanations regarding the usage scope, limitations, and the current status of R&D testing and verification for product innovations. It strictly forbids false or exaggerated claims, the use of scenarios that breach traffic laws to showcase product features, and any content that might lead drivers to neglect their duty for safe driving. This ensures that consumers have a correct understanding and can properly utilize the relevant features.

In terms of innovative design oversight, beginning January 1, 2027, newly submitted products will be required to disclose technical parameters related to their innovative designs and to conduct enhanced safety and environmental protection evaluations in line with the Technical Guide for Innovative Design of Automotive Products. Products already on the market must provide supplementary information by July 1, 2027. Failure to meet safety standards beyond this deadline will result in production halts and recalls.

The notice also explicitly bans the installation of fully concealed door handles and the utilization of foldable or flexible displays, stipulating that all relevant designs must undergo thorough testing and verification processes.

Regarding R&D testing and verification, newly declared products are required to undergo comprehensive evaluations across multiple dimensions, including reliability and durability, structural integrity, software functionality reliability, and environmental adaptability, as outlined in the Technical Specifications for R&D, Testing, and Verification of Automotive Products. Specifically, the environmental adaptability verification period must span no less than one year, and the reliability verification test must cover a distance of no less than 30,000 kilometers.