Following a recent incident in China where a Xiaomi electric vehicle collided and exploded, calls are growing within the Chinese automotive industry for enhanced safety measures in autonomous driving systems.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Tuesday, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) issued a joint statement with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), urging automakers to improve product safety design and strengthen driver warning systems.
CAAM called on manufacturers to avoid overstating their capabilities and to clearly distinguish between autonomous driving and driver assistance systems. The association emphasized the importance of providing consumers with comprehensive information about these systems, including proper usage guidelines and emergency response procedures.
The initiative aims to standardize driver assistance systems and promote the development of safe technologies through various proposed measures.
Earlier this month, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) convened representatives from 60 automakers, urging adherence to autonomous driving regulations. The ministry cautioned against using terms like Smart Driving and Autonomous driving. Most autonomous systems in China currently operate at Level 2 (L2) or L2+ standards, requiring driver control. Level 3 (L3) hands-off systems, as defined by U.S. SAE International standards, have not yet been legalized in China.
Last month, a Xiaomi SU7 was involved in a fatal collision in Anhui Province, killing three people. The vehicle was traveling at 116 km/h (72 mph) with its driver assistance system engaged. The system warned the driver to take control two seconds before impact, but the driver failed to respond.
Industry experts view this incident as a reminder of the misuse of autonomous driving systems and regulatory gaps in China. David Zhang, Secretary-General of the International Vehicle Intelligence Association (IVIA), emphasized the need for education, stating that millions of drivers require training to understand the limitations of autonomous driving systems and use them safely.
