Four Chinese Ministries Spell Out Auto Innovation-Design Rules, Crack Down on False EV Marketing

On October 15, 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's equipment department, the Ministry of Public Security's traffic-management bureau, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's atmospheric-environment department and the State Administration for Market Regulation organized a symposium with more than 30 major automakers to interpret the draft "Notice on Further Strengthening the Management of Automotive Product Innovation Design and R&D Test Verification." The regulators told companies to resist irrational competition, carry out product testing and verification in strict accordance with the rules, and regulate marketing: no false, exaggerated or misleading claims, no promoting functions in ways that violate road-traffic regulations, and no inducing drivers to ignore safety responsibilities. They also demanded stronger safety assurances for intelligent-connected NEVs and a complete production-consistency system, with a quality-improvement campaign, continuous supervision of key firms and public exposure of offenders to follow. Analysts said the meeting signals that auto innovation is shifting from a free-for-all to a compliance-first phase where safety and verification, not just speed to market, decide winners.

Source: Southern Net / Toutiao, Oct 19, 2026 | 2026-10-19