China drafts rules to curb exaggerated marketing of assisted driving features in EVs

China's top market regulator and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have issued a draft notice seeking public feedback on tighter oversight of recalls, production consistency and marketing practices for intelligent connected new energy vehicles.

According to the State Administration for Market Regulation, the draft rules prohibit carmakers from naming or promoting combined driver assistance systems in ways that could lead consumers to believe they are autonomous driving systems or have functions they do not actually possess, in a bid to prevent driver misuse.

Companies should also avoid overstating vehicle performance or misleading consumers into driving at unsafe speeds, the notice said.

The market regulator will step up inspections of advertising and commercial promotions that exaggerate driver assistance capabilities or mislead consumers.

It will also direct recall technical bodies to assess cases of excessive marketing and conduct joint investigations with the ministry, taking enforcement action where necessary.