China is cracking down on how automakers advertise driver-assistance features, banning terms like “autonomous driving,” “self-driving,” and “smart driving,” Reuters reported, citing a transcript of a meeting between the government and industry representatives.
The updated rule will also prohibit automakers from rolling out improvements via software updates to advanced driver-assistance systems in vehicles already in the hands of customers. Automakers must now test any upgrades or new features in ADAS and receive government approval before rolling it out via software update.
Wireless software updates that improve or fix features in vehicles — and first popularized by Tesla — have become a critical capability for automakers trying to stay competitive.
The mandate stems from growing concerns over vehicle safety and incidents of fatal crashes involving advanced driver-assistance systems. Last month, a Xiaomi Su7 sedan caught fire after crashing into a pole just seconds after the driver took over control from the ADAS.
It also follows Tesla’s rollout of its “Full Self-Driving software” branding used for its advanced driver-assistance system. FSD is not a self-driving system and requires a human driver to remain engaged. In China, Tesla changed the FSD name to “Intelligent Assisted Driving.”
Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast.” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.
