Chinese EV makers urged to boost safety in self-driving systems after Xiaomi crash
An organisation representing China's biggest carmakers has urged its members to enhance driving safety and avoid exaggerating the capabilities of their self-navigating systems, following
a fatal crash involving Xiaomi's SU7
electric vehicle (EV) last month.
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Carmakers should improve product safety designs and develop effective warning systems to alert drivers, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said on Monday in a joint statement with the China Society of Automotive Engineers. The groups outlined several initiatives to guide carmakers in standardising the promotion and application of driver-assistance systems.
The country's EV industry 'has developed rapidly and the combined driver assistance (level 2 driving automation) has entered a critical period of large-scale application', the statement said. The initiatives were aimed at 'building a healthy ecosystem and promoting the safe application of driver assistance products', it added.
02:17
Xiaomi to cooperate with police after fatal crash involving self-drive feature on SU7 EV
Xiaomi to cooperate with police after fatal crash involving self-drive feature on SU7 EV
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
summoned officials from 60 companies to a meeting earlier this month, asking them to fully comply with regulations governing the development of self-driving technologies. The government also warned them not to overstate the role of the driver-assistance systems.
The MIIT told the company representatives that the words 'smart driving', 'advanced smart driving' and 'autonomous driving' could not be used in promoting existing self-driving systems.
In mainland China, most available self-driving systems are classified as either level 2 (L2) or L2+, both of which require drivers to keep their hands on the wheel at all times. Beijing has yet to legalise L3 – a 'hands-off' system based on standards set by US-based SAE International. All drivers are required to be fully alert, even with the system turned on.
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A Xiaomi SU7 crashed in central Anhui province last month, claiming three lives. The car was travelling at 116km/h on a highway with the driver-assistance system engaged, adding that the system alerted the driver to take over the wheel two seconds before it hit a concrete barrier, the EV maker said.
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