CHINA BANS SMART AND AUTONOMOUS DRIVING TERMS IN VEHICLE ADS

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has imposed a ban on using “smart driving” and “autonomous driving” in vehicle advertisements, a regulatory crackdown announced during a meeting with nearly 60 automaker representatives, aimed at curbing misleading claims about advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), industry reports confirm.

- 

Triggered by a fatal Xiaomi SU7 crash, this mandate also tightens oversight of overthe-air (OTA) software updates, requiring government approval to ensure safety. For drivers, manufacturers, and tech analysts, the ruling reshapes China’s $700 billion automotive market, the world’s largest, where electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids dominate.

The ban prohibits terms that overstate ADAS capabilities, following public outcry over the SU7 incident, where a driver resuming manual control crashed at high speed, sparking debates about system reliability. Companies like BYD, Xpeng, and Huawei, which supply ADAS to brands like Audi, must now reframe marketing and secure permissions for updates, potentially slowing innovation. With over 50% of China’s vehicle sales being EVs or hybrids, this regulatory shift could influence global standards, given the country’s manufacturing clout.

This crackdown coincides with economic challenges, as rising chip costs strain automakers, yet China’s EV sector remains robust, with brands like BYD outpacing Tesla. As SpaceX bids for defense contracts and Apple pushes sustainability, China’s focus on ADAS safety reflects a broader recalibration of tech-driven industries, balancing innovation with public trust in a market where consumer confidence is paramount.

ADVERTISING BAN TARGETS MISLEADING CLAIMS