A look back at a transformative year in China's auto industry
Tighter safety rules aim to tackle fires
China is set to enforce the world's first mandatory safety regulations for new energy vehicle batteries that explicitly prohibit fires and explosions, a landmark move to address public concerns and solidify its position as a global NEV pioneer. Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in April 2025, and effective from July 1, 2026, the updated standards will replace a 2020 version, which only required a five-minute warning period in the event of fire risk, shifting the focus to proactive risk elimination. The core provision of the regulations stipulates that batteries must not ignite or explode for at least two hours, in the case of thermal runaway — a self-heating state of lithium-ion cells that is the primary cause of battery-related problems. Cars must also emit a thermal event alarm while ensuring any smoke produced does not harm occupants.
