China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has opened public consultation on draft rules covering emerging automotive technologies. The proposals address vehicle safety, operation and user interfaces, including powered seat functions, cabin screens, customizable lighting displays and door-handle designs.
For seats such as zero-gravity, rotating and fold-flat types, the draft calls for tougher assessments of crash performance, entrapment risks and reliability. MIIT recommends that automakers restrict when and where movable seat functions can be used, and proposes prohibiting their operation while a vehicle is moving.
The proposals would also require manufacturers to assess whether central entertainment displays, large screens and complex head-up displays distract drivers, and to check their reliability and safety in crashes and harsh conditions. The draft proposes banning folding and flexible screens. For exterior lighting, MIIT wants limits on protruding components and customizable messages projected from headlights or taillights; manufacturers would be expected to control displayed content and monitor what drivers enter.
MIIT is also pressing ahead with a proposed prohibition on fully concealed door handles. Novel handle designs would need to pass safety and reliability checks under demanding conditions, include a mechanical backup and leave enough room for manual operation. The proposals come as some new-energy vehicles offer matrix LED systems capable of projecting images or text outside the car.